2 US Judges Refuse to Extend Voter Registration Following Hurricanes
SUMMARY
Two federal judges have denied requests to extend voter registration deadlines in Florida and Georgia due to the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which have caused over 200 fatalities and widespread power outages. U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross in Atlanta ruled against the Georgia NAACP and other civil rights groups seeking to extend the registration deadline to October 14, citing insufficient evidence of individuals unable to register. Similarly, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle in Tallahassee dismissed a request from the League of Women Voters of Florida to push the October 7 deadline by 10 days. These rulings come as both states play critical roles in the upcoming presidential election, with Florida shifting politically to the right and Georgia being a key battleground for the race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
