By Jill Nolin | Editor
“The Court is not persuaded by any of Plaintiff’s arguments.” - Judge Victoria M. Calvert, referring to the Trump administration’s second attempt to obtain the sensitive data of Georgia voters.
Northern District Judge Victoria M. Calvert tossed the U.S. Department of Justice's second lawsuit seeking access to sensitive voter data. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
VOTING
By Maya Homan
For the second time, a federal judge in Georgia has dismissed a lawsuit from U.S. Department of Justice officials seeking access to sensitive voter data.
Federal officials have been demanding that state officials turn over Georgia voters’ personal data — including the Social Security numbers, full dates of birth and driver’s license numbers — since 2025, arguing the information was needed as part of an ongoing investigation into “Georgia’s compliance with federal election law.”
But in a Wednesday ruling, Northern District Judge Victoria M. Calvert said neither law cited in the Justice Department’s lawsuit required states to disclose sensitive information to the federal government and that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had proven he was able to comply with federal voter maintenance laws without providing the unredacted information.
Amy M. Jacobs (left), commissioner of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, visited pre-K summer transition program classes in northeast Georgia. New polling finds Georgia parents and non-parents are pessimistic about prospects for the next generation and think childcare is too expensive. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (file photo)
2026 ELECTION
By Ross Williams
Georgia’s preschoolers won’t be able to cast a vote this November, but the state’s youngest residents could play a role in deciding the state’s next governor, according to a new poll.
Nearly 70% of Georgians say they are pessimistic about children today having a better life than the previous generation, and among parents, that number is 78%, according to a new poll released by the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students asking more than 600 likely voters about policies for families with young children.
A Republican-led bill to curb congressional stock trading panned by Democrats as too weak failed to advance in the U.S. Senate on Sept. 30, 2026, when lawmakers stayed solidly within party lines for a procedural vote. (Photo by Douglas Rissing/Getty Photos)
DC BUREAU
By Ashley Murray
U.S. Senate Republicans did not gain any support Wednesday from Democrats as they attempted to advance a bill that mashed together two hot-button midterm issues: requiring voter ID in federal elections and limiting stock trading for members of Congress.
The Republican-led bill, titled the Stop Insider Trading Act, failed 53-47 when lawmakers stayed solidly within party lines for the procedural vote. Most legislation requires 60 votes, or three-fifths of the Senate, to advance.
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