Georgia Hits Milestone in Building State's Entrepreneur Power

Statement by Governor Sonny Perdue on Court’s Voter ID Ruling

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding Superior Court Judge Melvin Westmoreland’s issuance of a temporary restraining order, delaying implementation of the Georgia Voter ID law:

“I am disappointed that Superior Court Judge Melvin Westmoreland today temporarily stopped implementation of Georgia’s Voter ID law. Democracy only works because people have trust in the integrity of the ballot box. I respectfully disagree with Judge Westmoreland, and believe that Georgia’s law is not only constitutional, but a common sense, prudent protection of the election process.

“We are filing a notice of immediate appeal, in an attempt to protect the sanctity of ballot box at the July 18 primary election as well as during the November general election.

“Even the commission headed by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III recommended free, easily available, tamper-proof national photo IDs for all voters to prevent fraud and increase citizen confidence in the electoral system. While 24 states have some form of identification requirement for voting, the state of Indiana’s photo ID requirement, which is much like Georgia’s law, has been upheld by federal court and on appeal.

“The sad fact is that dead people have cast votes in Georgia and – before this law is implemented – there was no way to tell how many deceased voters, felons or even illegal aliens may have been casting ballots in Georgia elections. This law will ensure that every Georgian with the right to vote can cast that vote in fair, fraud-free elections.”

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