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Voting history · Georgia

Georgia

A dated list of changes to how Americans vote: district maps, polling places and drop boxes, voting laws and rules, and courts and election officials. Each entry says who did what and when, shows what became of it, and links to the page it rests on. Attempts that failed are listed as failed. Entries that rest on a news report name the outlet.

This is the state view: events recorded for Georgia, then national events that apply here. See the national timeline.

Congressional districts in Georgia

Choose a district to see the events tagged to it. A number after the district is how many events name it.

Kind of event
Decade

In Georgia

2009

  1. Nov 30, 2009 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Lowndes County: 2009 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated November 30, 2009, to Lowndes County. The list describes the change as "2009 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. May 29, 2009 State Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects to Georgia voter registration verification program

    On May 29, 2009, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 to Georgia's voter verification program for voter registration application data, including citizenship status, saying it could not conclude the state had met its burden. The letter described the program as matching applicant information against records of the state Department of Driver Services.

    Source last checked Oct 28, 2026

  3. Jan 14, 2009 State Courts and officials Upheld

    Eleventh Circuit rules for Georgia in Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups on photo ID

    On January 14, 2009, the Eleventh Circuit vacated the dismissal of the NAACP and voters' complaint over Georgia's photo identification law and rendered judgment in favor of Georgia's election officials, relying on the Supreme Court's decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. It affirmed an award of attorney's fees tied to an earlier injunction against a statute that charged a fee for a voter identification card.

    Related: Georgia requires government-issued photo identification to vote in person · Georgia repeals its 2005 photo ID law and enacts the 2006 Photo ID Act · Supreme Court decides Crawford v. Marion County Election Board

    Source last checked Oct 27, 2026

2007

  1. Jun 11, 2007 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Georgia Supreme Court reverses ruling against the 2006 Photo ID Act on standing

    In Perdue v. Lake, decided June 11, 2007, the Georgia Supreme Court reversed a trial court's determination that the 2006 Photo ID Act violated the state constitution. It held that the sole remaining plaintiff lacked standing to challenge the act.

    Related: Georgia repeals its 2005 photo ID law and enacts the 2006 Photo ID Act · Georgia Supreme Court upholds the 2006 Photo ID Act

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2006

  1. Sep 12, 2006 County Laws and rules Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects to Randolph County school board chair reassignment

    On September 12, 2006, the Justice Department objected under Section 5 to a change in voter registration and candidate eligibility for Randolph County: the proposed reassignment of the Board of Education chair from District 5 to District 4. The letter said it could not conclude the county had shown the change was free of a discriminatory purpose.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Feb 10, 2006 County Courts and officials Settled

    Long County agrees to consent decree over challenges to Hispanic voters

    On February 8, 2006, the United States sued Long County, Georgia under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, alleging officials required 45 Hispanic residents whose voting rights had been challenged to attend a hearing and prove citizenship. On February 10, 2006 the court entered a consent decree requiring training of election officials and poll workers, uniform procedures for voter challenges, and notice to the challenged voters that no evidence supported the challenges.

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. 2006 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Georgia repeals its 2005 photo ID law and enacts the 2006 Photo ID Act

    In 2006, while an appeal was pending, the General Assembly repealed the 2005 statute and enacted a new one requiring voters to present photo identification to vote in person. The Eleventh Circuit's opinion records that the governor signed it, the Attorney General precleared it, and it took effect before the 2006 primary and general elections.

    Related: Georgia requires government-issued photo identification to vote in person · Georgia Supreme Court reverses ruling against the 2006 Photo ID Act on standing · Eleventh Circuit rules for Georgia in Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups on photo ID · Georgia Supreme Court upholds the 2006 Photo ID Act

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2005

  1. Jul 1, 2005 State Laws and rules Enacted

    Georgia requires government-issued photo identification to vote in person

    In 2005 the General Assembly amended Georgia's identification statute to require all registered voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote in person. The requirement was to take effect July 1, 2005, subject to preclearance under Section 5. Organizations and voters sued in September 2005.

    Related: Georgia repeals its 2005 photo ID law and enacts the 2006 Photo ID Act · Eleventh Circuit rules for Georgia in Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups on photo ID

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2003

  1. Jun 26, 2003 State Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Georgia v. Ashcroft on the 2001 State Senate plan

    In Georgia v. Ashcroft, decided June 26, 2003, the Supreme Court held that the District of Columbia court had failed to consider all the relevant factors in deciding whether Georgia's State Senate plan led to retrogression in Black voters' effective exercise of the electoral franchise under Section 5. It rejected Georgia's argument that a plan should be precleared if it satisfied Section 2.

    Source last checked Oct 28, 2026

2002

  1. Oct 15, 2002 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Marion County School District: 2002 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated October 15, 2002, to Marion County School District. The list describes the change as "2002 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Sep 23, 2002 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Albany (Dougherty County): 2001 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated September 23, 2002, to Albany (Dougherty County). The list describes the change as "2001 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  3. Aug 9, 2002 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Putnam County: 2001 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated August 9, 2002, to Putnam County. The list describes the change as "2001 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  4. Aug 9, 2002 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Putnam County School District: 2001 redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated August 9, 2002, to Putnam County School District. The list describes the change as "2001 redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2001

  1. Oct 1, 2001 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Ashburn (Turner County): Adoption of numbered posts and majority-vote requirement

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated October 1, 2001, to Ashburn (Turner County). The list describes the change as "Adoption of numbered posts and majority-vote requirement." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

2000

  1. Mar 17, 2000 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Tignall (Wilkes County)

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated March 17, 2000, to Tignall (Wilkes County). The list describes the change as "Proposed addition of numbered posts, staggered terms and a majority vote requirement to the method of electing councilmembers." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

  2. Jan 11, 2000 County Maps and lines Blocked by federal objection

    Justice Department objects under Section 5 to a change in Webster County School District: Redistricting plan

    The Justice Department's list of Section 5 objections for Georgia records an objection letter dated January 11, 2000, to Webster County School District. The list describes the change as "Redistricting plan." The list links the objection letter.

    Source last checked Oct 24, 2026

Nationwide

2009

  1. Oct 28, 2009 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act becomes law

    Section 575 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84, dated October 28, 2009) may be cited as the "Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act." It adds a requirement that states transmit a validly requested absentee ballot to an absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter not later than 45 days before a federal election, when the request is received at least 45 days before it.

    Related: Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act becomes law

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  2. Jun 22, 2009 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. One v. Holder

    On June 22, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Voting Rights Act "must be interpreted to permit all political subdivisions, including the district, to seek to bail out from the preclearance requirements," and so did not decide the constitutional question. The syllabus also says the Act "now raises serious constitutional concerns."

    Related: Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006 · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  3. Mar 9, 2009 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Bartlett v. Strickland

    On March 9, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a North Carolina ruling. A three-Justice opinion concluded that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act "does not require state officials to draw election-district lines to allow a racial minority that would make up less than 50 percent of the voting-age population in the redrawn district to join with crossover voters to elect the minority's candidate of choice."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2008

  1. Apr 28, 2008 National Courts and officials Upheld

    Supreme Court decides Crawford v. Marion County Election Board

    On April 28, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the ruling upholding Indiana's photo identification law (SEA 483). Justice Stevens, joined by two other Justices, concluded that "the evidence in the record does not support a facial attack on SEA 483's validity."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2006

  1. Oct 20, 2006 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Purcell v. Gonzalez

    On October 20, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated a Ninth Circuit order that had blocked Arizona's new voter identification requirements before the November election. The Court said that vacating the order "shall of necessity allow the election to proceed without an injunction suspending the requirements" and expressed "no opinion on the correct disposition of the appeals."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

  2. Jul 27, 2006 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Voting Rights Act reauthorized and amended in 2006

    Public Law 109-246, dated July 27, 2006, may be cited as the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006." Among other changes it amended Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and replaced the references to the 1982 amendments in Section 4(a).

    Related: Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982 become law · Supreme Court decides Shelby County v. Holder

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

  3. Jun 28, 2006 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides LULAC v. Perry

    On June 28, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court decided challenges to Texas's 2003 congressional redistricting. The Court's syllabus says "Texas' redrawing of District 23's lines amounts to vote dilution violative of § 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

2002

  1. Oct 29, 2002 National Laws and rules Enacted

    Help America Vote Act of 2002 becomes law

    Public Law 107-252, dated October 29, 2002, is titled, in part, "To establish a program to provide funds to States to replace punch card voting systems, to establish the Election Assistance Commission" to assist in the administration of federal elections, and "to establish minimum election administration standards for States and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of Federal elections."

    Source last checked Oct 20, 2026

2000

  1. Dec 12, 2000 National Courts and officials Decided by a court

    Supreme Court decides Bush v. Gore

    On December 12, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a per curiam opinion, reversed the Florida Supreme Court's order for manual recounts. The Court's syllabus says "any recount seeking to meet 3 U.S.C. § 5's December 12 'safe-harbor' date would be unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause."

    Source last checked Oct 23, 2026

How this timeline is built

Every entry rests on at least one source that was opened and read, and that source states the date and the fact. Courts, legislatures, election offices, the Justice Department, the Census Bureau, the Federal Register and Congress.gov come first. A news report is used only when no official page states the fact, and it is labeled with the outlet's name. Encyclopedias are not used as sources. History starts in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act. County names come from the Census Bureau's 2024 Gazetteer. Congressional district numbers are those in use for the 2026 election; an event is tagged to a district only when its source names that congressional district.

When a later event changes an earlier one, such as a law later struck down, both entries are listed and point to each other. This page does not predict outcomes or say which party a change helps. U.S. House maps for 2026 · Back to the 2026 voting center.