Staff Reports
Senate Bill 189, a new election law that expands on the Election Integrity Act of 2021, was approved by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. The legislation enacts provisions including removing the Secretary of State from the State Election Board, establishing deadlines for absentee ballot submissions, and adding more guidelines for ballot custody. Additionally, it gets rid of QR codes from ballots going forward.
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State Senator Max Burns is applauding the measure, saying it demonstrates the state's dedication to restore public confidence in Georgia's elections and placing a high priority on accessibility and integrity. The ACLU of Georgia, on the other hand, intends to contest the law, arguing that it will unduly burden election workers and is a step backward for voters' rights and voting access. The Democratic Party of Georgia's executive director also denounced the law's signing, branding it a concession to conspiracy theories.
The law also permits a presidential candidate to be eligible to run for Georgia's ballot if they have access in at least 20 other states or territories, and it requires that all advance and absentee ballots be counted within an hour of the polls closing. Former Republican U.S. senator Kelly Loeffler, chairwoman of Greater Georgia, voiced confidence in the new legislation' ability to provide increased election safety, accuracy, and transparency.
Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state, applauded the action and noted that Georgia is already a national leader in election security and integrity. In order to guarantee that the modifications to the legislation are adequately funded, he added that he was looking forward to collaborating with the General Assembly and Georgian counties.
Georgia's new election law seeks to improve the fairness and accessibility of the state's electoral process. Republican leaders have praised it for encouraging accuracy and transparency, but Democratic and civil rights organizations have criticized it, claiming that it will burden election workers and limit voting rights. The intense political division over electoral reform initiatives is reflected in the ongoing discussion surrounding the statute.
