On Thursday, a Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives, Park Cannon, who is African American, was handcuffed by state troopers and physically removed from the state capitol for banging on the office door Governor Brian Kemp. Inside the office, surrounded by White men, Kemp signed into law a sweeping bill that restricts voting access and could allow state officials to exert more control over local elections. 

According to the arrest warrant, Ms. Cannon “knowingly and intentionally” kept knocking on the door and stomped on the apprehending officer’s foot with her heels. This is not corroborated by witnesses or video. She has been charged with two felonies, obstruction of law enforcement, and disruption of the General Assembly.

Let’s think about this scenario for a minute. Georgia’s constitution says lawmakers, “shall be free from arrest” during meetings of the General Assembly, “except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.” In my view, an elected representative was exercising her right to free speech, protesting this bill seeking to curb voting rights. She was arrested and charged with two felonies. I wonder, if Ms. Cannnon had been white, would she have been arrested, placed in handcuffs and charged? 

So, what is all the hubbub over Georgia Senate bill 202? Here’s the scoop. 

1. It adds new ID requirements for requesting mail-in ballots. This replaces the current system which requires only a signature. More specifically, mail-in voters will need to include their driver’s license numbers or other documentation to verify their identities. Republicans claim this will create increased confidence in election integrity. The term “election integrity” is the Republican buzz-word used to propagate the “Big Lie” of stolen elections. Let’s not kid ourselves. This will make voting harder for poor people who don’t have a photo ID. 
2. The bill also limits the use of ballot drop boxes. They can only be located inside election offices and early voting locations. Although several states have the same rules for ballot drop-boxes, it seems that this just makes mail-in voting more difficult rather than more convenient. Given the fact that 80 million eligible voters did not cast a ballot in the November 2020, election, I would assume that lawmakers would want to make things easier for the electorate, not harder.
3. Bill 202 limits the powers of the state election board and gives greater power to the state legislature to override the board. Critics are worried that this will allow the GOP-dominated Legislature greater influence over the state board, and gives the Legislature the power to remove local election officials who are considered to be “underperforming.”
4. This bill shortens the runoff election period, from nine weeks to four weeks. This shortens the time for early and mail-in voting. Republicans claim it will more “fairly reflect voters’ beliefs” at the time of the initial vote.
5. Finally, the bill calls for the banning of giving food or water to voters waiting in line in polling places. The Republican-sponsored bill calls it a way to solicit votes and makes it a misdemeanor. The law applies within 150 feet of a polling place or 25 feet of any voter at a polling place. I remember seeing videos and social media feeds of voters, particularly in predominantly black parts of the state, waiting in line for hours and hours to vote.  Many states of course have rules regarding soliciting and canvassing at polling places, but we can’t ignore the data that shows that voters in black neighborhoods have to wait in line longer lines to vote than whites. Although it’s easy to get aorund this rule by keeping the appropriate distance, this is just another attempt to disenfranchise voters.

Republicans say the new voting laws are “common sense,” and according to Governor Kemp, “Georgia will take another step toward ensuring our elections are secure, accessible and fair.” No Governor, this bill is another step restricting the voting rights of minorities, the poor, Democrats, and young voters.  As Georgia Democratic country board of elections member, Helen Butler states, “It’s looking at total control of the election process by elected officials, which is not what it should be.”  She also added, “It’s all about turnout and trying to retain power.”

As of last month, lawmakers in 43 states have introduced 253 bills with provisions restricting voter access. These bills include curbing absentee voting, early voting, and purging voter rolls. We are witnessing a frightening movement by the GOP, fueled by conservative groups, to repress minorities, the poor, and young people who they fear will vote democratic. It is tragic that the “Big Lie” of voter fraud pushed by Trump has been accepted by his supporters and most Republican lawmakers. They call it voter integrity, but it’s really about power.

Pardon me quoting Charlie Daniels’ song, The Devil went Down to Georgia. I would add this twist; The Devil went down to Georgia. He was looking for elections to steal. He was in a bind, ’cause the GOP was way behind. He was willing to make a deal.

Many thanks to Thomas Campbell for editing this blog post.