SEB 2014-14

The New Georgia Project

Voter Registration By Mail

Applicant
completes
paper
application

Applican
t drops
from
system

Mails or
delivers to
SOS or
county
registrar

Applicant
does not
respond
within 40
days or with
proper
verification
Applicant
supplies
necessary
documentation
to county
registrar

If data matches
existing voter,
info is updated
and new
signature
captured
PROCESS ENDS
County
registrar
enters all
data in VR
System

County sends
letter asking for
more information
for verification

Data for new

voter goes to
DDS for
verification of
identity and
citizenship

Applicant is

Applicant is
VERIFIED by
DDS for ID
and
citizenship

UNVERIFIED

Voter is
registered

Potential Violations of Law and

State Election Board Rules

Forgery, O.C.G.A. 16-9-1

Making False Statements,
O.C.G.A. 21-2-560

False Voter Registration,

O.C.G.A. 21-2-561

Providing Fraudulent
Information, O.C.G.A. 21-2-562

Why This Matters

Each forged VR Application is a
felony.
OCGA 21-2-561: Any person who knowingly gives
false information when registering as an elector shall
be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than
one nor more than ten years or to pay a fine not to
exceed $100,000.00, or both.

Each forged waiver of release to

copy VRA is a felony.

Timeline for Investigation

May 5, 2014: First complaints are received in mid-May 2014 from Butts
County election officials that voter registration canvassers were giving
inaccurate information about people being required to re-register to vote.
May 7, 2014: Investigators from SOS responded to Butts Co. and meet
with election officials and sheriffs office
May 13, 2014: Formal Investigation opened
June 3, 2014: Chris Harvey spoke with Rep. Stacey Abrams about the
project (at her request) to introduce the project.
June 6, 2014: After preliminary investigation, SOS Investigators met with
Executive Director, Lauren Groh-Wargo, of New Georgia Project (NGP) and
their legal counsel to discuss concerns with practices of NGP. NGP reported
safeguards in place to prevent abuse such as entering all new applications
in a database to prevent double dipping and/or multiple registrations of
same individuals to accrue more credit for the workers.
July 14, 2014: NGP reported they adopted some ideas from SOS such as
background checks for employees and more emphasis on training and
quality control.

Timeline for Investigation

August 11, 2014: Chris Harvey spoke by phone with
Executive Director, Lauren Groh-Wargo, to request that
NGP delivers completed voter registration applications to
the counties where they were gathered or to the SOS
Office, and not deliver all to Fulton County as that taxes
Fulton Countys election office unnecessarily.
Mid-August 2014: Reports began arriving from Henry,
DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties about suspicious voter
registration applications. Some forgeries are confirmed by
election officials in their reports to SOS, and additional
forgeries are discovered by SOS. Investigation expands and
more numerous and more serious allegations begin to
emerge.

Timeline for Investigation

August 22, 2014: NGP Executive Director scheduled a
meeting with Linda Ford to discuss to the program. Chris
Harvey met a second time with Executive Director of the
NGP to share growing concerns about false information
appearing on voter registration applications.
August 20-September 5, 2014, Marked increase in
reported suspicious applications
September 5, 2014: Chris Harvey notified SOS
executive staff of increase in complaints and
recommended subpoena
September 9, 2014: Investigative subpoena prepared
and issued to NGP

What is being forged?

Georgia Voter Registration
Applications

Sensitive
identity
informatio
n

This is where
the voter signs
the oath

Warning against
forgery and
false
information

Warning Against Fraud

What is being forged?

Waivers for keeping and copying
voter registration information
Waiver allowing
NGP to copy
and keep data
Area where we
have identified
3 forged
signatures

Identity of person
who obtained
signature and

Counties Reporting Complaints From

New Georgia Project
Sept.
5

Aug. 20

Aug. 21

Aug. 12
Aug.
26
Sept. 10

May
5
Sept
10

Sept. 5

Sept.
10

Sept.
10
Sept.
10

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Butts County
Reported May 5, 2014 (First report
from any source)
People given inaccurate information
about being required to re-register in
order to vote

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Henry County
Reported August 12, 2014
8 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
6 confirmed forgeries
2 unknown

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
DeKalb County
First Reported August 20, 2014
Additional Report September 5, 2014
4 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
3 confirmed forgeries
3 forged waivers allowing NGP to store
personal information
1 unknown application

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Gwinnett County
First Reported August 21, 2014
Additional Report September 4, 2014
8 suspicious VRA cards
3 confirmed forgeries
4 unknown
1 confirmed legitimate

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Cobb County
Reported August 26, 2014
3 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
1 confirmed forgery
2 confirmed legitimate

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Bartow County
Reported September 5, 2014
Over month-long delay in returning
completed Voter Registration
Applications
False information given to voters from
NGP about voters being required to reregister in order to vote with ID Card

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Muscogee County
Reported September 5, 2014
6 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
3 Confirmed forgeries
3 unknown

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Coweta County
Reported September 9, 2014
15 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
10 confirmed legitimate (all 10 from the
same person who admitted he was just
helping his friends working in NGP get
their numbers)
5 unknown

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Terrell County
Reported September 10, 2014
3 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
3 confirmed forgeries

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Toombs County
Reported September 10, 2014
6 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
3 confirmed forgeries on applications
3 unknown applications

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Tattnall County
Reported September 10, 2014
3 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
2 confirmed forgeries
1 unknown

Suspicious VR Applications
as of September 16, 2014
Effingham County
Reported September 10, 2014
6 Suspicious Voter Registration
Applications
1 confirmed valid application
5 unknown

Preliminary Totals
25 Confirmed Forged Voter
Registration Applications in seven
counties
26 Suspicious, but unconfirmed
Voter Registration Applications in
other counties
14 Confirmed Valid Voter
Registration Applications (1 voter
registered 10 times)
3 Confirmed Forged waivers of

Unknowns?
The applications that are
UNKNOWN are combinations of:
Non-existent addresses
Non-identifiable names and/or
biographical information
No contact made with voter to verify
application

How is the forgery being done?

Some voters have reported being contacted by
telephone and being asked questions about
registering to vote by members of NGP.
Some voters have absolutely no idea how
applications with their names (and often inaccurate
identifying or address information) have been
submitted.
Some unknown address lists are being used in the
field by NGP.
Some members of NGP have admitted to registering
family members and forging the applications.

Forged Registration
Scenario
Forged
applicati
on
submitte
d

Voter is
informed
their vote
didnt count
because
signature
did not
match VRA

County processes
application and retains
latest (forged)
signature

County
compares
signature on
ballot and
VRA and
REJECTS the
ballot or
petition

Voter
gets no
notificati
on

Voter
votes
absentee
ballot
Voter
signs
petition

Why This Matters

Inaccurate information submitted on a
registered voter can change the status of
the voters registration and ability to
vote!
1. A forged signature will replace the voters official signature
on record and will cause the voters signature on an
absentee ballot to be rejected, and thereby,
disenfranchising the voter
2. A forged signature will replace the voters official signature
on record and will cause the voters signature to be rejected
on petitions the voter may sign
3. An inaccurate address can result in voting for candidates or
issues in areas where the voter does not reside

Potential Violations of Law and

State Election Board Rules

Forgery, O.C.G.A. 16-9-1

Making False Statements,
O.C.G.A. 21-2-560

False Voter Registration,

O.C.G.A. 21-2-561

Providing Fraudulent
Information, O.C.G.A. 21-2-562

Potential SEB Rules Violations

Regarding New Georgia
Project Registrations
183-1-6.02(6)(a) requirement to inform applicant
that they can return their own registration
183-1-6.02(6)(b) inform all registrants they are not
registered until the board of registrars approves
application
183-1-6.02(6)(c) inform registrants that if this is
their first registration, they will need to provide ID
183-1-6.02(6)(d) inform registrants of the
availability of an online system to check their
registration status
183-1-6.02(6)(e) inform registrants of their right to
cast a provisional ballot in some circumstances

SEB Alleged Rules Violations

Regarding New Georgia Project
Registrations (contd.)

183-1-6.02(7)(f) accepting an
unsealed, completed voter registration
application without signed
acknowledgement from the registrant
183-1-6.02(7)(g) copying a completed
registration application without the
written permission of the applicant

What We Seek
Our previous interactions with NGP have
produced records that show specific
connections between NGP members and
specific forged documents
We need to make these connections and
identify other evidence of fraud
We need to identify counties that might
have unidentified problems
We need to identify individuals who
participated in this conduct

Conclusion and Recommendation

As demonstrated, multiple felonies, frauds,
and violations of SEB rules have been
occurring on a numerous and state-wide
basis
NGP has indicated a willingness to work with
us to get us the documents we need and has
requested until September 26 th to comply.
I recommend that the board issue a revised
subpoena with that due date, and that we
continue this investigation