Georgia’s Republicans Introduce Legislation to Restrict Voter Access
Republican lawmakers in Georgia are looking to change how votes are cast in the state by introducing a collection of bills that would essentially roll back voter access. The GOP insists that the voter access rollbacks are an effort to combat voter fraud, a widely held belief by conservatives both in the public and in the lawmaking body even though the claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election are not supported by any evidence.
At least eight Senate bills are being proposed that would limit the access that voters currently have to the polls. The first bill, SB 68, tackles the issue of ballot drop boxes. The previously used 24/7 monitored drop boxes that voters used to submit ballots would be eliminated.
Another bill, SB 69, would eliminate automatic voter registration or the “ Motor Voter law” entirely. This bill would remove the automatic voter registration application that is generated any time someone makes contact with the Department of Driver Services. At least 7.7 million voters have been registered through this method in the last election. By undoing this practice, voters would be faced with an unnecessary hurdle when trying to get registered to vote.
The next bill, SB 70, appears to be drafted as a result of the runoff election that took place in the state late last year. This bill would keep voters who voted in a general election outside of the state of Georgia from voting in a Georgia runoff election for either the House or Senate. During the 2020 runoff elections in the state, some conservative outlets perpetuated the notion that voters from outside of Georgia were coming into the state and voting in the run-off elections.
Another one of the controversial bills is SB 71. This bill would require that absentee votes be cast with a justification or explanation as to why the voter was “required to be absent.” Under this bill, the only reason why an absentee ballot would be accepted without explanation is if a voter is 75 years of age or older or has a physical disability. In light of recent world events, the bill interestingly does not make mention of circumstances such as a global pandemic that could play into reasons why someone might vote absentee. In many states, not just Georgia, COVID-19 played a huge factor in voters casting their vote absentee and by mail. In a twist of what many Democrats have called hypocrisy, this bill would reverse the no-excuse absentee voting that was initially established by the Republican-led Georgia government in 2005.
In addition to the absentee ballot restrictions of SB 71, SB 73 would limit who can send out absentee ballots through the mail. The new bill would prohibit nonprofits or other organizations from sending out the paper ballots and instead would hand over that responsibility to the Secretary of State's office.
In defense of the introduced legislation, Republican state senator Butch Miller expressed in a statement, “I want every legal vote counted, and I want better access for all voters. Accusing our reform efforts of suppression is a political tactic, pure and simple." Miller adds, “Even those of us who never claimed that the election was stolen recognize that the electorate has lost confidence in the legitimacy of the system.”
In response to the recent voter access proposals made by Republicans, many Democratic leaders have scoffed at the propositions on social media.
Democrat Rep. Josh McLaurin tweeted, "How pathetic is it to respond to election losses by changing election rules rather than changing course on policy and tone?"
Another Democratic rep, Nikki Merrit, tweeted, "GA Republicans are so weak the only way they can win is by blocking your access to voting."
In a statement made by the Georgia Senate Democrats, the group shares, "These bills introduced today by the GA Senate GOP are a laundry list of #votersupression tactics meant to roll back voter participation, aimed specifically at reversing the impact [of] Black voters and other voters of color."
Analysts speculate that some of these bills will likely pass while others are likely to encounter challenges.
