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Georgia Republican Party Proposes Election Law Changes to Restrict Early Voting and Absentee Ballot Access

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Georgia Republican Party is advocating for significant changes to the state's election laws, including the elimination of a week of early voting, the end of no-excuse absentee voting, and automatic voter registration. The party's goals, which were presented to a Republican-led legislative study committee, would reduce voting options for the 4 million voters who cast early or absentee ballots in last year's presidential election. Democrats and voting rights groups argue that the proposals would make it harder for Georgia voters to cast their ballots and perpetuate policies driven by five years of grievances since President Donald Trump's narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Georgia Republican Party is pushing for a significant reduction in voting options, including the elimination of a week of early voting and the end of no-excuse absentee voting.
  • The party's proposals would affect 4 million voters who cast early or absentee ballots in last year's presidential election.
  • The party's messenger, Brad Carver, is a 2020 Republican elector who still believes that President Biden was not the legitimate winner of the 2020 election.
  • The proposals would also eliminate automatic voter registration and withdraw Georgia from the 25-state voter registration accuracy organization called ERIC.
  • Carver told state legislators that more changes to election laws are needed after Georgia's voting overhaul in 2021, which focused on absentee voting.
  • Democrats and voting rights groups argue that the proposals would harm voters' rights and perpetuate policies driven by grievances since Trump's loss.

Statistics:

  • 4 million voters cast early or absentee ballots in last year's presidential election.
  • 71% of turnout was accounted for by early voting during the three weeks before last November's election.
  • 5% of Georgia voters returned absentee ballots.
  • Republican confidence in elections rose after Donald Trump's victory last year, with 98% of Republicans saying their votes were counted as intended.

Sources:

  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Republican Party of Georgia
  • Democratic Party of Georgia
  • Georgia First
  • All Voting is Local

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