State of Georgia

Georgia Oconee County Voter Challenges Lawsuit

Heimel v. Gregg

Lawsuit filed by a candidate for Oconee County Board of Commissioners, Suzannah Heimel, challenging the Oconee County Board of Elections’ decision to dismiss challenges to the validity of 228 voter registration records without holding a full hearing. The plaintiff argues that the board of elections is required by state law to hold meetings for all voter challenges. She also argues that the board has failed to verify the eligibility of registered voters and remove dead or ineligible voters from the rolls, in violation of state laws. She asks the court to declare the board of elections dismissal of these voter challenges invalid and allow the challenged voters to cast only provisional ballots until their eligibility to vote can be verified.

The plaintiff filed her petition on Sept. 4, 2024. 

On Oct. 4, Common Cause Georgia and an Oconee County voter filed a motion to intervene in defense of the challenged voters. They asked the court to dismiss the case and filed their own emergency motion asking the court to block the county board of elections from holding any future hearings on voter challenges before the 2024 general election.

On. Oct 7, a judge dismissed the plaintiff’s petition. A hearing on the intervenors’ motion for an emergency injunction was held on Oct. 21, 2024.

On Oct. 24, a judge granted a temporary restraining order. Oconee County’s board of elections are blocked from holding voter challenges hearings before the 2024 general election.

RESULT: On Nov. 4, the judge granted Common Cause’s motion to dismiss.

Case Documents

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