by way of Daniel Johnson
Might 13, 2024
Georgia’s SB 189, which Gov. Brian Kemp signed into legislation on Might 6, used to be meant to be a medication of the environment’s voter fraud problems, however some voter rights advocates consider it would put together the problem of voter suppression worse.
Georgia’s SB 189, which Gov. Brian Kemp signed into legislation on Might 6, used to be meant to medication the environment’s alleged voter fraud problems. Then again, some voter rights advocates consider it would put together the problem of voter suppression worse. In the meantime, the environment’s Republican Birthday celebration defends the invoice. The invoice, prepared to hurry impact in July, will permit Georgia citizens to problem the voter registration of alternative voters the use of allegedly doubtful method.
As ProPublica reported, the Georgia segment of the American Civil Liberties Union has threatened to sue the environment over its fear that the legislation violates the Nationwide Voter Registration Employment. Caitlin Might, a vote casting rights lawyer with the crowd, advised the hole, “It’s bad policy and bad law and will open the floodgates to bad challenges.”
In the meantime, Georgia’s Environment Election Board is making an attempt to decide what its upcoming plan of action will have to be, as John Fervier, the board chair, advised ProPublica. Fervier believes that the board should instruct election officers on what to do, however he doesn’t know what that may entail. “We’re going to probably have to try and provide some instruction telling” election officers how to reply to SB 189, mentioned Fervier. “I don’t know if that will come from the State Election Board or from the secretary of state’s office. But we’re one day past the signing of the legislation, so it’s still too early for me to comment on what kind of instruction will go out at this point.”
Georgia Environment Rep. John LaHood, a Republican who helped cross the invoice, allegedly advised the hole that he believed the invoice would now not impact voter suppression. “I see this as being pro-America, pro-accuracy, pro-transparency, and pro-election integrity,” LaHood mentioned. “I don’t see it being” about voter suppression “whatsoever.”
Conservative organizations have signaled their intent to problem many voter registrations on this week’s election underneath the legislation. The environment’s GOP chair advised the Atlanta Magazine-Charter that he believes the legislative consultation amounted to “a home run for those of us concerned about election integrity.”
Andrea Younger, Georgia ACLU’s govt director, mentioned in a press let go in regards to the passage of SB 189, “SB 189 is a step back for voters’ rights and voting access in the state of Georgia,” Younger mentioned. “Most importantly, this bill will require already overburdened election workers to spend time processing unnecessary voter challenges. As always, elected state officials should work to make voting easier and not more difficult for Georgia citizens. We are committed to protecting Georgia voters and will see the governor in court.”
Consistent with Independence Docket, “SB 189 makes it even easier to invalidate a voter’s eligibility by not placing any limits on which factors can be used to make a valid claim — like if someone is registered to vote or has a ‘homestead exemption’ in another jurisdiction. It also allows voters to be removed from the rolls up until 45 days before an election — a violation of the National Voter Registration Act, which bans removal of voters within 90 days of a federal election. The new law also eliminates the practice of using QR codes on ballots to count votes electronically.”
In its press let go decrying the invoice, the Southern Poverty Regulation Middle argued that the invoice is a reaction from Kemp to “baseless conspiracy theories.” Courtney O’Donnell, a senior body of workers lawyer for vote casting rights with the SPLC, mentioned in a commentary, “Election officials already carry the huge civic responsibility of safeguarding our ballots and ensuring that every vote is counted,” mentioned O’Donnell. “Now, Gov. Kemp has further burdened them by enacting an election law that is responsive to baseless conspiracy theories.”
O’Donnell persevered, “SB 189 green lights unsubstantiated voter challenges and creates further confusion for election administrators in resolving voter challenges. Furthermore, it targets unhoused voters by making them more susceptible to voter challenges and requiring them to make the county registrar’s office their mailing address. The passage of SB 189 represents a significant setback in the fight for equitable and accessible elections in Georgia and a stark reminder that our fight for voting rights is far from over.”
