CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2024 --The American Bar Association’s Task Force for American Democracy kicks off a series of listening tour events Tuesday with a program in Atlanta featuring local leaders, legal scholars and defenders of democracy. The event, titled “Taking the Next Step: Ensuring Trusted Elections and Civics for Georgians,” will be held at the Bar Center of Georgia and will address vital election integrity issues and the need to support poll workers.
What:
Taking the Next Step: Ensuring Trusted Elections and Civics for Georgians
ABA Task Force for American Democracy
When:
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 1-4:30 p.m. ET
Where:
Bar Center of the Georgia State Bar
104 Marietta Street NW, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30303
Register at: [email protected]
Attendees will partake in discussions and expert panelists will offer insights on safeguarding our electoral process. Ryan Germany, a partner at Gilbert Harrell Sumerford & Martin and former general counsel to the Georgia Secretary of State, will facilitate the program. The event will conclude with a call to action from former ABA President and Task Force Vice Chair Bill Ide to inspire individual responsibility in our democracy.
Introductory remarks will be delivered by American Bar Association President Mary Smith; retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig, co-chair of the Task Force for American Democracy; and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
The event can be livestreamed here.
Program information and speaker biographies can be found here
Panels include:
What to Expect in 2024: Nuts and Bolts of Georgia Election Administration
- David Becker, executive director, Center for Election Innovation and Research
- Lynn Bailey, former executive director, Augusta-Richmond County Board of Elections
- Shauna Dozier, director, Clayton County Board of Elections and Registration
- Blake Evans, director of elections, Georgia Secretary of State, Elections Division
- Judge Jonathan Fordham, elections superintendent, Bleckley County
A Conversation on Democracy: How it Affects Us All
- Andrew Morse, president and publisher, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Carly Fiorina, national honorary chair, Virginia 250 Commission
- Jason Carter, partner, Bondurant, Mixson, and Elmore, LLP
- Larry D. Thompson, counsel, Finch McRanie, LLP; former general counsel, PepsiCo
The task force is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the nonpartisan administration of elections and providing support for election workers. Moving forward, the task force will:
- Work to mobilize the legal profession to uphold its duty to support and defend the Constitution and the rule of law.
- Ensure lawyers are educated regarding their professional obligations.
- Leverage the legal profession to educate the public on the reasons for, and the importance of, democracy and the rule of law.
The next listening tour event will be in Michigan next month. Events also will be held in Wisconsin, Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona. Each session will include local election officials and community leaders discussing issues they face and how public confidence in the election process can be enhanced.
All media must be credentialed, and interviews will be available. To register, contact [email protected]. Media check-in will start at 11:30 a.m.
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