Republican lawmakers in Georgia have passed a bill that would allow for people to be removed from voting rolls through ‘challenges to voter eligibility.’ Supporters argue that this would help prevent fraud, while opponents believe that it could harm legitimate voters. The bill is currently awaiting Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature or veto. Georgia has faced controversy around election laws ever since Stacey Abrams lost the 2018 governor’s race to Brian Kemp, and the issue has gained national attention in recent years.
Georgia allows citizens to file challenges to an individual’s eligibility to vote, such as when they have personal knowledge of a neighbor moving out of state. However, challenges have increasingly been made using impersonal data sources like the National Change of Address list. Some opponents argue that mass voter challenges disproportionately target certain groups, such as younger and poorer voters, including African Americans, as they move more often. This has raised concerns about the balance between updating voter rolls and ensuring everyone’s right to vote.
Republican activists in support of challenging large numbers of voters argue that the current process for removing voters from the rolls takes too long. They believe that some voters have been able to vote at old addresses by using outdated information. Opponents, however, argue that there is minimal actual voter fraud in Georgia and that the challenges could end up impacting legitimate voters. Critics of the bill point out that it could make it more difficult for homeless citizens to cast ballots, as they would have to use the county voter registration office as their address.
The new bill passed by Georgia lawmakers defines probable causes for removing voters from the rolls, including death, evidence of voting or registering elsewhere, tax exemptions indicating a primary residence elsewhere, or a nonresidential address. It also includes the National Change of Address list as a factor, although opponents argue that this list is unreliable. The bill has not yet been implemented, and it remains to be seen how counties will handle challenges based on the new legislation.
Opponents of the bill have raised concerns about the potential impact it could have on legitimate voters. They argue that some people may live at a nonresidential address, such as a place of business, and could be wrongly affected by the bill. Critics also warn that aggressive removal of voters from the rolls could lead to lawsuits under the National Voter Registration Act. A federal judge ruled in January that challenges do not constitute illegal intimidation under the Voting Rights Act, but the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has threatened to sue if the bill is signed into law.
As Georgia continues to grapple with election laws, the issue of removing voters from the rolls through challenges remains contentious. While supporters argue that it is necessary to prevent fraud, opponents fear that it could disenfranchise legitimate voters. The bill, if signed into law, could have significant implications for future elections in the state as Georgia once again becomes a focal point in the national debate over voting rights.
