Georgia Enacts New Voting Restrictions

[Thomas White]

Where does the law say you can't share water with someone?

"nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector..." (SB 202, 1812-1814)

You can find the entire bill at the following link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/201121

 

[Freth]

If we are both in line to vote in Georgia and you are thirsty, it is illegal for me to give you my extra bottle of water. I could go to jail because I don't want you to be dehydrated. Thank the legislation Governor Kemp signed behind locked doors yesterday. Let that sink in.

These two photos from the Georgia Capitol reveal what the state's new voting law is all about - CNNPolitics

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CNNPolitics: Georgia Republicans speed sweeping elections bill restricting voting access into law

"The new law imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, empowers state officials to take over local elections boards, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters in line to give them food and water."

I don't live in the state of Georgia, but I'm all for maintaining voter integrity. What person doesn't have an ID in this day and age?

 

[Thomas White]

CNNPolitics: Georgia Republicans speed sweeping elections bill restricting voting access into law

"The new law imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, empowers state officials to take over local elections boards, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters in line to give them food and water."

I don't live in the state of Georgia, but I'm all for maintaining voter integrity. What person doesn't have an ID in this day and age?

This my biggest concern:

"nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector..." (SB 202, 1812-1814)

You can find the entire bill at the following link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/201121

 

[Freth]

This my biggest concern:

"nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector..." (SB 202, 1812-1814)

You can find the entire bill at the following link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/201121

Why do we need to be handing out water to voters? More importantly, what voter doesn't have access to water? What voter can't prepare ahead of time and bring water with them? What voter can't step out of line, walk in the building to drink from a fountain or sink, then come back and get in line? I don't get the outrage. Are we honestly saying that personal responsibility is out the window and we must hand out water, because voters aren't smart enough to bring their own?

 

[Thomas White]

Why do we need to be handing out water to voters? More importantly, what voter doesn't have access to water? What voter can't prepare ahead of time and bring water with them? What voter can't step out of line, walk in the building to drink from a fountain or sink, then come back and get in line? I don't get the outrage. Are we honestly saying that personal responsibility is out the window and we must hand out water, because voters aren't smart enough to bring their own?

Voters may not expect the 8-9 hour waits in line. In Georgia, that's common during popular elections. The temperature is regularly near 100 or over during the summer. It's not much better in autumn. For years, groups have been giving out water to keep voters hydrated. That way, the voter won't leave the line to get water. I gave out 70 cases of water this year at just one precinct.

 

[Freth]

Voters may not expect the 8-9 hour waits in line. In Georgia, that's common during popular elections. The temperature is regularly near 100 or over during the summer. It's not much better in autumn. For years, groups have been giving out water to keep voters hydrated. That way, the voter won't leave the line to get water. I gave out 70 cases of water this year at just one precinct.

Your dedication is honorable. If it takes 8-9 hours to vote, I'm not voting.

 

[Guinan]

lol wow

I'm just wondering what alternate universe we're getting a glance into. Lol.

 

[Aldebaran]

I'm just wondering what alternate universe we're getting a glance into. Lol.

I'm curious why people are focusing so much on having water while standing in line when the original problem people had was the idea that black people will somehow not be able to vote as easily.

 

[Thomas White]

I'm curious why people are focusing so much on having water while standing in line when the original problem people had was the idea that black people will somehow not be able to vote as easily.

It's because in Georgia, the long lines only happen in the largely populated cities. Last year, the 8-9 hour lines usually only occurred at precincts in which the population was majority Black/Hispanic. Without the water, it gets harder for anyone to deal with an 8-9 hour line.

 

[DragonFox91]

Looks like that 'shall not give water' line is in reference to soliciting votes, a gift AKA reward. That's all that part is saying. The whole paragraph is about that. Context is key. I agree w/ it.

Also, 8-9 hour lines this past November? T In the middle of a pandemic where everyone & their brother mailed in their ballot? If you say so. I have heard lines can get long, tho.

I think lines 1824 & 1829 are specifically addressing the concern about 'no water' available. It's confusing language tho.

"This Code section shall not be construed to prohibit a poll officer from distributing 1825 materials, as required by law, which are necessary for the purpose of instructing electors 1826 or from distributing materials prepared by the Secretary of State which are designed solely 1827 for the purpose of encouraging voter participation in the election being conducted or from 1828 making available self-service water from an unattended receptacle to an elector waiting in 1829 line to vote."

 

[Thomas White]

Looks like that 'shall not give water' line is in reference to soliciting votes, a gift AKA reward. That's all that part is saying. The whole paragraph is about that. Context is key. I agree w/ it.

Also, 8-9 hour lines? In the middle of a pandemic where everyone & their brother mailed in their ballot? If you say so. I have heard lines can get long, tho.

It is not in regards to soliciting votes. The "nor" starts a new prohibition. In that paragraph, "nor" is used twice after the line I quoted. The first addresses petitions and the second addresses setting up tables. Neither of those have anything to do with soliciting votes. Solicitation is only mentioned in the first line of the paragraph. The way a law is written means everything. You can't tell a judge, "But your honor, I thought the context around the wording meant I could still give my friend water."

In Fulton County, the line wait reached 10 hours.

 

[DragonFox91]

What do you think the context of gifts means? Drink is specifically listed after gifts, it's trying to be clear drink can be considered a gift. Context is very important to judges.

nor shall any person give, offer to give, 1814 or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and 1815 drink, to an elector,

 

[Thomas White]

What do you think the context of gifts means? Drink is specifically listed after gifts, it's trying to be clear drink can be considered a gift. Context is very important to judges.

nor shall any person give, offer to give, 1814 or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and 1815 drink, to an elector,

But it does not read "any person soliciting votes." It reads "any person." That's the law. Any person.

 

[DragonFox91]

We'll have to see the intent of the law & how a judge would rule it. But I suspect a mountain is being made out of a molehill & it won't even reach a court b/c of the intent of the law. I am still curious about Lines 1824-1829 tho.

 

[Aldebaran]

But it does not read "any person soliciting votes." It reads "any person." That's the law. Any person.

Most likely because a person could go around passing out food and drinks while campaigning while at the same time claim to not be soliciting votes. Campaigns can be pretty crafty about how they do things. That's why they just have to use the term "any person".
A simple solution is for voters to simply bring a water bottle with them if they're familiar with how long the waits can be.

But the big thing most people have been upset by isn't not being able to pass out water. They're mostly claiming that the new law is meant to make it harder for black people to vote.

 

[DragonFox91]

Most likely because a person could go around passing out food and drinks while campaigning while at the same time claim to not be soliciting votes. Campaigns can be pretty crafty about how they do things. That's why they just have to use the term "any person".
A simple solution is for voters to simply bring a water bottle with them if they're familiar with how long the waits can be.

But the big thing most people have been upset by isn't not being able to pass out water. They're mostly claiming that the new law is meant to make it harder for black people to vote.

The idea is no one wants to wait in a long line, & would want to even less in hot, hot Atlanta (was only 60 election day tho, apparently, I wouldn't call that exactly scorching, but whatever, you can develop a thirst over an 8 hour period). So by trying to keep conditions miserable, you're making it harder for them to vote. I hope this makes sense. I know, a lot of gymnastics is required.

 

[Aldebaran]

The idea is no one wants to wait in a long line, & would want to even less in hot, hot Atlanta (was only 60 election day tho, apparently, I wouldn't call that exactly scorching, but whatever). So by trying to keep conditions miserable, you're making it harder for them to vote. I hope this makes sense. I know, a lot of gymnastics is required.

Well, sure it makes it harder, but I believe black people, white people, and everyone in between are equally as capable of bringing a water bottle and maybe an umbrella to block the sun, and even a folding lawn chair to sit on. The law applies to everyone, regardless of race.

 

[DragonFox91]

Well, sure it makes it harder, but I believe black people, white people, and everyone in between are equally as capable of bringing a water bottle and maybe an umbrella to block the sun, and even a folding lawn chair to sit on. The law applies to everyone, regardless of race.

Right, but the idea is the people waiting in these communities are largely minority, so it's targeted to them. I know, I don't get it either. Especially in a big city, I would think word travels fast how long the lines are.

 

[Aldebaran]

Right, but the idea is the people waiting in these communities are largely minority, so it's targeted to them. I know, I don't get it either. Especially in a big city, I would think word travels fast how long the lines are.

But isn't the law for the entire state of Georgia? I'm not from there, but I imagine that there are rich areas and poor areas, with some areas having more or less minorities than others. All of them throughout the state would be affected equally it would seem.

 

[DragonFox91]

But isn't the law for the entire state of Georgia? I'm not from there, but I imagine that there are rich areas and poor areas, with some areas having more or less minorities than others. All of them throughout the state would be affected equally it would seem.

It is for the whole state.

The sky is falling about Atlanta, which has a large minority population. That's where the long lines develop. That's where a voter would need water over an 8 hour period. That's why they think it's racist.