Civil rights groups are suing Georgia to extend the voter registration deadline, citing the impact of Hurricane Helene

CNN
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Civil rights groups sued Georgia on Monday to extend the state's voter registration deadline by a week to accommodate residents who may have been unable to register in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which wreaked havoc in the state before the deadline.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court by a coalition of civil rights groups, argues that Hurricane Helene made landfall just days before the start of a critical week-long period before the Oct. 7 deadline when registration numbers in the state typically skyrocket and this last phase interrupted registrations.

The group's lawyers claim that the “massive and widespread disruption and devastation” Helene caused in the state “likely prevented tens of thousands of Georgia residents from registering to vote in a timely manner because they lacked internet access and were unable to travel.” “couldn’t, didn’t have access to postal services,” or didn’t have a functioning county election office.”

They are seeking an extension of the deadline until next Monday.

CNN has reached out to Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's office for comment on the lawsuit.

Voting rights advocates have similarly tried to get Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to extend that state's Monday deadline, citing Helene and the approaching Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit in the next year or two will hit the Tampa Bay area for days.