| dbo:abstract |
The Election Integrity Act of 2021, originally known as the Georgia Senate Bill 202, is a law in the U.S. state of Georgia overhauling elections in the state. It mandates voter identification requirements on absentee ballots, limits the use of ballot drop boxes, expands in-person early voting, bars officials from sending out unsolicited absentee ballot request forms, reduces the amount of time people have to request an absentee ballot, increases voting stations or staff and equipment where there have been long lines, makes it a crime for outside groups to give free food or water to voters waiting in line in order to solicit votes, gives the Georgia General Assembly greater control over election administration, and shortens runoff elections, among other provisions. The bill has generated significant controversy, described by critics as unprecedented and widespread Republican-led anti-democratic voting restrictions, with President Joe Biden labeling the bill "Jim Crow in the 21st century". Georgia governor Brian Kemp called criticism of the bill "disingenuous and completely false", and has argued that it differs little from voting laws in most other states. In June 2021, the Department of Justice sued Georgia over the law, which it alleges is racially discriminatory. In May 2022, the first election since the law's passing, early voter turnout was up 212% from the previous election. This caused several observers to state that the law does not suppresses voter turnout, while others believed it does not tell the full story, as the law may have a chilling effect that deterred people from casting their votes by absentee ballot, resulting in them voting early in-person instead. Voting-rights groups and campaigns have helped people understand the new law. (en) |
| dbp:sponsors |
Sens. Max Burns, Butch Miller, Michael Dugan, Frank Ginn, Lee Anderson, Randy Robertson, Jeff Mullis, John Albers, Larry Walker, Matt Brass, Jason Anavitarte, Marty Harbin, Billy Hickman, Dean Burke, Sheila McNeill, Brandon Beach, Bruce Thompson, Tyler Harper, Carden Summers, Chuck Payne, Chuck Hufstetler, Blake Tillery, John Kennedy; Rep. Barry Fleming (en) |
| rdfs:comment |
The Election Integrity Act of 2021, originally known as the Georgia Senate Bill 202, is a law in the U.S. state of Georgia overhauling elections in the state. It mandates voter identification requirements on absentee ballots, limits the use of ballot drop boxes, expands in-person early voting, bars officials from sending out unsolicited absentee ballot request forms, reduces the amount of time people have to request an absentee ballot, increases voting stations or staff and equipment where there have been long lines, makes it a crime for outside groups to give free food or water to voters waiting in line in order to solicit votes, gives the Georgia General Assembly greater control over election administration, and shortens runoff elections, among other provisions. (en) |
