October 6, 2016

Press release: Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp unveils foreign-language video to instruct non-English speakers on voter registration

Posted by D.A. King at 11:00 am - Email the author   Print This Post Print This Post  

Media release from the Georgia SOS office ( HERE )

SOS Brian Kemp’s office phone: 404-656-2881

You can see one of the videos described below HERE.

UPDATE: SEE HERE

October 5, 2016

SOS Brian Kemp – photo, Facebook

KEMP UNVEILS FIRST OF FOUR NEW MULTI-LANGUAGE ELECTION VIDEOS

ATLANTA, GA – Today Secretary of State Brian Kemp unveiled the first of four new video tutorials in English, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese on voter registration, absentee voting by mail, advance in-person voting, and Election Day voting. Kemp encourages Georgians to take advantage of these tutorials with only seven days left until the voter registration deadline and absentee voting by mail already underway for the November General Election.

“I want every eligible Georgian to have the information they need to take part in the electoral process,” stated Secretary Kemp. “These new resources will help voters who are non-English speakers know how to register to vote and prepare to cast their ballot.”

Secretary Kemp initiated this project to ensure every Georgian is informed on Election Day. Individuals can view the voter registration tutorials by visiting Secretary Kemp’s YouTube channel or the Elections Division’s website. All four tutorials will be available to Georgians by week’s end. Kemp will also work with minority advocacy groups to promote the videos in various communities across the state.

“In the Secretary of State’s office, we are dedicated to ensuring every Georgian has the opportunity to register to vote and allow their voice to be heard at the polls,” said Kemp.

Several important dates are fast approaching for eligible Georgian citizens who want to vote in the General Election on November 8, 2016.

The deadline to register to vote or update voter information is October 11, 2016. Georgia citizens can submit an electronic voter registration application using their Georgia driver’s license number or state-issued identification card number on several platforms: Online Voter Registration (OLVR), the free “GA SOS” mobile app for Apple and Android devices, and the recently announced “2VOTE” text messaging pilot project. Individuals can also mail in hard-copy voter registration applications to their county registrar to register to vote by the deadline.

“It has never been easier to register to vote in our state,” said Kemp. “For the first time in Georgia, voters can register to vote or update their information online, via text, or by using the office’s smartphone app.”

By October 11, voters should verify their voting information and, if necessary, update their record. The “My Voter Page” is a great resource to check your voter status, update your personal record, and view individualized voting information to prepare for November.

Absentee voting by mail began on September 20. As of today, 14,729 mail-in absentee ballots have been cast for races on the ballot this November. Advance in-person voting begins on October 17. Georgia law also requires the polls to be open on Saturday, October 29 in all 159 counties for Georgians to vote in the November contests.

In-person voting occurs on electronic voting equipment in Georgia. If you wish to cast a paper ballot, you must request an absentee ballot by November 4.

Georgia is not a “covered jurisdiction” under the federal Voting Rights Act to offer election information in other languages. Ballots and related election materials are printed in English.

Currently, there are over 6.5 million registered voters in the Peach State.

Brian Kemp has been Secretary of State since January 2010. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting secure, accessible, and fair elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities, charities, and professional license holders.

For more information about the office, visit our website at www.sos.ga.gov. Follow Secretary Kemp for agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.