Recently, something bizarre happened to Tyler, Fair Fight’s Creative and Digital Director – and it’s a warning to every Georgia voter.
Tyler received a letter from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office claiming that his voter registration status was about to be changed to “inactive.”
In Georgia, a voter can be marked inactive if they haven’t had any contact with election officials for five years – like voting by mail, updating their registration info, or responding to mail – or if certain official mail gets returned as undeliverable or goes un-responded to.
Being marked inactive doesn’t mean you’ve lost your right to vote – not yet. You can still cast a ballot on Election Day, vote early, or request an absentee ballot. And if you do, your status should go right back to “active.”
But that doesn’t mean there’s no cause for concern. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office is currently planning to remove nearly half-a-million people from the voter registration rolls, and about 100,000 of those are folks who have been marked inactive because election mail was returned as undeliverable.
The letter Tyler received said it was triggered because mail sent to him had been returned as undeliverable. But here’s the thing: Tyler hasn’t moved, hasn’t changed his name or voter registration details, and he gets mail at his current address every day (like the letter we’re discussing, for example).
Plus, he literally works at a voting rights organization. And yes, he’s voted in every major election since 2016. So, what gives? How could he be at risk of being marked as inactive?
WATCH: Tyler votes in every election. So why did Georgia just say he’s going to be marked as an ‘inactive’ voter?
According to the Secretary of State, Georgia uses United States Postal Service (USPS) mail return data as one of the triggers to begin the process of removing voters from the rolls. But Georgia currently ranks as the second worst state in the country for USPS mail delivery, with widespread delays and return errors – meaning thousands of Georgians like Tyler may be facing this issue through no fault of their own. (See more here, and here).
This isn’t just a paperwork mistake. It’s part of a broader trend we’ve been fighting against for years – quiet forms of voter suppression that seem like normal procedures, but actually chip away at ballot access and voter confidence slowly over time.
Here’s what you need to know and do if you receive one of these letters:
Step 1: Check & Update Your Voter Registration – ASAP: If you have a Georgia driver’s license or state ID, go to mvp.sos.ga.gov. Log in, click “Update My Voter Information,” and confirm your address. Even if nothing has changed, doing this can help prevent your status from being changed to "inactive."
Step 2: Fill Out & Return the Form: The letter you received should include a form. Fill it out, take a photo for your records, and mail it back. Drop it off at your local post office or a USPS blue box – this reduces the risk of it being lost or delayed.
Step 3: Call Your County Elections Office: Call and confirm that your voter status is still “active.” You can find your local contact info at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
This issue is frustrating, but it’s also fixable. It’s another reminder of why staying vigilant and vocal about voting rights is so important, especially in states like Georgia.
If something like this has happened to you, we want to hear about it. Share your story at FairFight.com/ShareYourStory.
Because here’s the truth: this isn’t just red tape – it’s a strategy. And it’s designed to confuse, discourage, and suppress voters like you.
Don’t let them gaslight you. Check your voter registration status, take action, and help us keep Georgia’s elections free, fair, and accessible for all.
Fair Fight Action Team
This is why people should vote in every election, even if you write in your own name. In a free country, you have responsibilities, like voting.
Check your voter status EVERY YEAR -- it's easy enough online. (Unless they take that away...so speak out against the "Save Act" pending in the Senate Check it on your birthday every year! Or make it a ritual on some other occasion each year.