Secretary of State Karen Handel and Gov. Sonny Perdue have been throwing out excuses all week to defend why they can't extend voting hours, despite lines of six and eight hours. Today, a group of Georgia Democrats demanded an extension, after finding out that the Republicans' excuses -- as expected -- are bogus.
Now, Rep. John Lewis is requesting the Dept. of Justice approve extended hours tonight and Saturday voting. (The DOJ must approve any changes to voting as a legacy of our civil rights history).
Link to the news below:
Here's the AJC:
The Clayton County Board of Elections and Registration voted Friday afternoon to request an extension of advanced voting from the U.S. Department of Justice. The board is currently on a telephone conference with U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who is asking the Justice Department to approve the request.
Clayton County requested only Saturday voting, not Sunday or Monday.
DeKalb and Fulton county officials also are meeting to decide whether to request more early voting days.
Atlanta officials sent a letter to DeKalb and Fulton election officials on Friday asking them to extend voting hours to 9 p.m. Friday and to open polls from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The letter, written by City Clerk Rhonda Johnson, also requested that polls remain open until to 9 p.m., instead of closing at 7 p.m. DeKalb and Fulton have the most early voters in the state.
If Georgia could get a half day of Saturday voting in Clayton, Dekalb and Fulton, Obama could win Georgia. Martin would stand a damn good chance of winning without a runoff.
UPDATE: From the comments, please take a moment to send a note to Georgia's Secretary of State (form here) or Rep. John Lewis (form here). Better yet, give Rep. Lewis a call. He needs to know the entire Netroots Nations is pulling for him to win this one. DC: (202) 225-3801, Atlanta: (404) 659-0116