GA’s Secretary of State investigating third-party voter registration forms sent to dead residents, dog

HOUSTON COUNTY — If you’ve received a voter registration form for a family member who has passed away, you’re not alone, and a Georgia state agency is looking into it.

Late last week, Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced an investigation into Ready to Register and other third-party organizations after numerous voter registration mailers were sent to deceased Georgians. According to a media release from the Secretary of State’s Office on Thursday, July 9, the office is reviewing whether the mailings violate Georgia law or undermine confidence in the state’s election system. 

According to the statement, third-party voter registration groups routinely conduct mass mailings before major elections. The nonprofit group Ready to Register joins 56 others operating in the state, according to CauseIQ.

Unlike Georgia’s official voter registration process, these campaigns often rely on outdated commercial databases that contain inaccurate information. One report to the office said a deceased family dog received a solicitation.

In the media release, Raffensperger said cases like this highlight the unreliability of commercial data. He said the state of Georgia maintains its voter database through continuous list maintenance and citizenship verification. 

He said outside organizations don’t use those standards, and that mailboxes contain inaccurate solicitations that confuse voters and waste election officials’ time. 

Raffensperger thanked the voters who flagged the inaccurate mailings and sent them to the Secretary of State’s office. 

“Whether checking their ballots for accuracy or keeping their own registration information up to date, voters are a crucial line of defense in election security,” he said.

According to the media release, the problems seen in Georgia are similar to those recently identified in North Carolina. The State Board of Elections publicly warned voters about mailings from Ready to Register on Wednesday, July 1. 

North Carolina election officials reported that the organization mailed registration forms to deceased individuals, used outdated voter registration forms, included incorrect election office addresses and created privacy concerns through faulty QR codes. Officials warned that the campaign confused voters and imposed unnecessary burdens on county election offices. 

“Whether intentional or simply reckless, these mail campaigns operate like a grift – raising money and generating activity while shifting the costs onto taxpayers, election officials, and voters,” Raffensperger said. “Georgia taxpayers should not have to clean up the mess created by organizations that prioritize volume over accuracy.”

Andy Holland, an election assistant with the Houston County Board of Elections, said cases were low in the county during the recent election. However, they have seen it before. 

He said third-party mailing causes confusion, distrust and frustration. When these cases happen, the board of elections assures voters that the form did not come from them. 

“[Organizations are] probably working off a list that might be several years old. They haven’t requested a new one or updated their information,” Holland said in an interview. 

Voters can verify their registration status at the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page. It is encouraged to ignore unsolicited voter registration mail if you are already registered at your current address. 

Holland encourages voters who are not comfortable registering electronically to call the board of elections or visit its office at 2030 Kings Chapel Road, Perry. There, staff can provide people with a list of locations where they can register, such as city halls and libraries. 

“The voter knows that it’s legitimate and it’s coming from a reliable source,” he said.