A Ga. voter fights to cross various barriers preventing them from exercising their right to vote. In March of 2021, Senate Bill 202 was passed in Ga., changing various voting procedures in the state. “This oppressive legislation will be extremely obvious in Ga.’s gubernatorial election in November as it will skew the voting results,” Viewpoints Editor Janie Ripps wrote. Illustration by Antonio Starks
Restrictive bills in Georgia, specifically Senate Bill 202, are suppressive to voters’ rights and will greatly impact the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Every election day in the United States, eligible citizens cast their ballots at in-person polls or through early or absentee voting. Some may not vote at all, but any option is their right as citizens of the U.S.
However, for voters in Georgia, this isn’t true. Georgians’ voting rights are being taken away.
Following record-breaking voter turnout in Georgia during the 2020 presidential election, Senate Bill 202 was introduced in the Georgia General Assembly. There had been multiple attempts to pass voting rights bills in early 2021, but Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp successfully signed SB202, also known as the Election Integrity Act, into effect in March of 2021.
The foundation of democracy was built around a citizen’s right to vote. However, in Georgia, voting isn’t a right anymore. It’s a privilege.
This controversial legislation introduced changes to how elections in Georgia are run. New restrictions on in-person, early and absentee voting were put in place and will be extremely evident in Georgia’s gubernatorial election in November as voting results will be skewed.
An infographic shows how many Georgia citizens voted in the past two gubernatorial and presidential elections. There has been increased voter turnout in Georgia elections, but this is something the introduction of Senate Bill 202 will heavily impact. “For a (gubernatorial midterm) it’s usually anywhere between 45% and 59% (voter turnout),” Athens-Clarke County Director of Elections and Voter Registration Charlotte Sosebee said. “For (a) presidential election, you usually have a lot higher turnout. Probably 50% to 65%, and sometimes 70%. It just really depends.” Infographic by Janie Ripps
“(Because of SB202) there are less times for voters to request an absentee ballot,” Athens-Clarke County Director of Elections and Voter Registration Charlotte Sosebee said. “It (decreased) the number of days that we can accept the applications, but also the number of days that someone can first (apply). In the past, that was (180) days, now it’s only (77). (SB202) reduced the number of ballot drop boxes, (too).”
In addition to absentee ballots, restrictions on in-person voting were enforced. At polling locations, it is illegal for anyone who is not a poll worker to pass out food and water to voters in line for polls, regardless of how long those voting have been waiting.
According to Census.gov, in-person voting made up 26% of votes in the 2020 Presidential Election. SB202 discourages voters at in-person polls and with obstacles on absentee ballots, voting is more complicated than it should be.
The foundation of democracy was built around a citizen’s right to vote. However, in Georgia, voting isn’t a right anymore. It’s a privilege.
How can elections in the U.S, Georgia and Athens be considered fair when suppression is the new normal?
A timeline of the steps Senate Bill 202 went through before being signed into effect is shown. SB202 introduced new legislation that not only voters will have to adapt to but election officials, as well. “We have to adjust to the changes,” Athens-Clarke County Direct of Elections and Voter Registration Charlotte Sosebee said. “As elections officials, we have to take it upon ourselves to educate our voters and inform them of (these) changes so that they’re aware. (We have to) educate our voters.” Timeline by Janie Ripps
For Athens-Clarke County attorney Bertis Downs, an Athens voter, the new changes in voting procedures is an attack on voters’ rights.
“(Examples of) election suppression (in Georgia) would be the laws that limit voting on Sundays, voting early, voting absentee (and) dropboxes,” Downs said. “There used to be dropboxes determined by the local elections officials based on the size of the county, the intensity of the population and where it’s dense and where you need more dropboxes. (Now,) we can only have one dropbox per county.”
While SB202 was designed to silence voters, there are ways to fight back.
How can elections in the U.S, Georgia and Athens be considered fair when suppression is the new normal?
Democracy is constantly changing. If a citizen is opposed to a bill, they have the right to reach out to elected officials, including those in the Georgia General Assembly, to express their concerns.
The voting process may change, but the constitutionally granted right to vote should never. Georgia voters need to fight for their rights and fight for their voice.
