When a voter accesses https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do to request their absentee ballot, they will see their voting status. If they are listed as “pending,” the webpage will clarify why their application has not been approved and provide suggestions for how the voter can resolve the issue. Any voter, regardless of whether they vote in person or via absentee ballot should check this website before casting their vote. Again, if a voter does not have access to the internet, the local Board of Elections in their county is qualified to assist in resolving application issues.
Who is REALLY responsible for this?
Stacey Abrams voted against Online Voter Registration in 2014 and founded the New Georgia Project (NGP) to register voters. It is an organization that refuses to use Online Voter Registration and instead relies on canvassers to help citizens fill out paper applications. While registering voters is a valiant effort, most of the 53,000 registrations that are “pending” are flagged because the NGP canvassers – who submitted the applications – failed to ensure the applications were filled out completely and accurately. Seventeen of these canvassers are even under investigation by Attorney General Chris Carr.
When you register to vote online rather than using paper applications, you are unable to submit an incomplete form because the webpage will block you from doing so. The application will never be placed in “pending” status and will be automatically approved. Paper registrations allow for human error, mistaken forms, reregistration of individuals already registered to vote, among other issues.
In short, NGP created this “problem” and is now trying to place the blame on Brian Kemp, even though it is the county elections offices who process applications and only do so when they are complete and accurate – because that is the law.
These folks can vote, and will no longer be “pending” once they verify their identity at their polling location on Election Day. A driver’s license will do. Thanks to Online Voter Registration- i.e. Brian Kemp, it’s never been easier to vote in Georgia.