A new voting reform bill in Georgia, recently approved by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, mandates that all absentee ballots must be counted and results announced on Election Night.
The bill, known as SB 189, brings about several key changes to the state’s election processes.
These include addressing conflicts of interest among the secretary of state, the state Board of Elections, and ballot counters; stipulating that homeless individuals must designate their county register’s office as their mailing address; prohibiting the use of P.O. boxes or private mailbox services as proof of residency for voters; and requiring individuals who have voted or registered elsewhere to re-register in their original district before casting a ballot there.
The bill also explicitly requires all absentee ballots to be counted and reported within one hour of the polls closing on Election Day:
All absentee ballots that have been verified and accepted … by the Monday prior to the day of the primary, election, or runoffshall be tabulated and the results reported by no later than 8:00 P.M. on the day of such primary, election, or runoff or within one hour of the closing of all polls in such county, whichever occurs later.
This new rule is so noteworthy that Jeremiah Poff of the Washington Examiner claimed that it “will do wonders for election integrity in the Peach State” and that “every state should pass” a measure like it. “Public confidence in elections is paramount to keeping civil order and facilitating transfers of power from one party to another. Counting votes in a timely and accurate manner is essential to keeping that confidence,” Poff wrote.
However, many on the left are less enthusiastic about the new bill. Fair Fight Action, an organization reportedly founded by twice-failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, called it “a gift to MAGA election deniers” and claimed it will embolden “right-wing activists in their efforts to kick Black and brown voters off the rolls.”
Andrea Young, executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, likewise called the bill “a step back for voters’ rights and voting access.” “This bill will require already overburdened election workers to spend time processing unnecessary voter challenges,” Young said in a statement.
Many of the bill’s alterations are set to take effect in the coming months or years, with the majority, such as the revised absentee ballot regulations, becoming operational in July.
While a representative for Gov. Kemp declined to comment to USA Today on the legislation, they did confirm that Kemp signed it on Monday.
The new voting reform bill in Georgia, SB 189, represents a significant shift in the state’s election processes. By mandating that all absentee ballots must be counted and results announced on Election Night, the bill aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in the electoral system.
While some, like Jeremiah Poff, view this as a positive step towards ensuring election integrity and public confidence, others, such as Fair Fight Action and the ACLU of Georgia, criticize the bill for “potentially disenfranchising marginalized voters.”
As the provisions of SB 189 begin to take effect in the coming months, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact future elections in Georgia.
Regardless of one’s stance on the bill, it is clear that the debate surrounding voting rights and access will continue to be a central issue in the ongoing discussions about democracy and governance.
ICYMI: California’s DA’s Reportedly Won’t Prosecute Any Child Predator Cops Turn In
