The National Consequences of Georgia’s New Election Law – By Lisa Hagen (US News) / Mar 26 2021
The legislation is just one of more than 200 measures that have been introduced around the country since November that could limit voter access.
THE SWEEPING NEW VOTER law in Georgia is raising alarms for voting rights advocates who argue the legislation will place a disproportionate burden on voters of color – particularly Black voters – and could have broader political implications for the next elections held in 2022.
Georgia has become the epicenter of the fight over state election rules, but the legislation is just one of more than 200 measures that have been introduced around the country since November that could limit access related to voter registration, early and absentee voting and tighten voter ID laws…
After seeing historic turnout in the 2020 election followed by unfounded claims of voter fraud pushed by former President Donald Trump and many Republicans, activists worry that the onslaught of bills in Georgia and across the U.S. will disenfranchise Black voters at higher levels. They played a pivotal role in delivering Joe Biden the presidency and a few months later, two Senate seats in runoff elections that handed Democrats a narrow majority.
“Americans must demand federal action to protect voting rights as we continue to fight against these blatantly unconstitutional efforts that are nothing less than Jim Crow 2.0,” 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams said in a statement through her voting rights group Fair Fight Action, referring to the laws that institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination.
