Federal judge weighs if state's mail-in ballot stamp requirement is poll tax

A federal judge wants the Georgia’s Secretary of State’s Office to provide more information about its absentee ballot system that’s the focus of a lawsuit that says requiring voters to pay for postage to mail in absentee ballots amounts to an unconstitutional poll tax.

U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg’s request came at the end of Friday’s four-and-half hour preliminary injunction hearing over the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia’s claims that requiring voters to pay for a 55-cent stamp amounts to a poll tax. The ACLU wants the state to cover mail-in ballot postage costs for the June 9 general primary and its legal director said Friday it wants the practice followed in future elections as well.

Totenberg said Friday that her decision could also apply to elections scheduled for August and November.

She did not immediately rule Friday after questioning the feasibility of making changes in time for June’s election.

Read more: https://georgiarecorder.com/brief/federal-judge-weighs-if-states-mail-in-ballot-stamp-requirement-is-poll-tax/