Advocates sue for earlier Georgia Public Service Commission elections

The five Republican members of the Georgia Public Service Commission meet Dec. 19, 2023, in Atlanta. A lawsuit filed on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, challenges a new law that delays elections for the public utility regulators, saying letting their terms last more than six years violates the state constitution. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy, File)

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A group of Georgia energy and voting rights advocates is calling for delayed Public Service Commission elections to happen as soon as possible. The group is suing to challenge a state election law passed earlier this year.

PSC elections in Georgia have been on hold since 2022 because of a federal lawsuit alleging the election process for commissioners violates the Voting Rights Act. The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to take that case, meaning the system will stay in place as-is, and clearing the way for elections to proceed.