Gov. Kemp Signs Law To Slow ‘Use It Or Lose It’ Voter Purges

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks to members of the Georgia House of Representatives near the end of the 2019 legislative session, April 2, 2019.

John Bazemore / Associated Press

Gov. Brian Kemp — who last year received national attention for purging hundreds of thousands from the state’s voter rolls — quietly signed a reform bill last week that will make it a little easier for people to vote.

The bill tweaks the state’s so-called “use it or lose it” policy under which people who don’t cast ballots in multiple elections can be removed from the voter rolls. Georgia voters will now have their registrations canceled after nine years of inactivity, instead of seven. The bill also requires that voters receive an additional notice in the mail before they’re removed from the rolls.

The changes follow an investigation last year by APM Reports, WABE and Reveal that found in July 2017 Kemp, who was then secretary of state and planning to run for governor, oversaw the purge of about 107,000 people from the registration list, largely for not voting.