One of the most notable parts of the new Georgian electoral law signed by the government. Brian KempBrian KempFDA Aims for Full Approval of Pfizer Vaccine by Labor Day: Report New Spotlight for Secretary of State as Election Battleground Georgia Gov. Kemp says the FDA needs to update its approval for vaccines MORE (R) Thursday is that it would be illegal for people to provide food or water to voters while waiting in lines to cast their ballots.
The new law provides for the provision of food and water in a section on elections, which places new restrictions on the practice. It compares food and drink to gifts that could be given to a voter.
The provision has been highlighted repeatedly by critics of the comprehensive legislation, which some said may have left Georgia earlier President TrumpDonald TrumpDHS watchdog blames data management for rocky PPE distribution: Trump report encourages supporters to buy misspelled Trump Official Card‘s column if it had been the law of the state in November.
President Biden
Joe BidenCruz tears up GOP colleagues complicit with Biden’s spending agenda In a statement released Friday by the White House, the bill was referred to as “Jim Crow in the 21st Century”.
“If you want some indication that it has nothing to do with fairness or decency, they passed a law that says you can’t provide water to people in line while they’re on the line Waiting for vote? ” Biden later told reporters, highlighting that provision.
“You don’t need anything else to know that this is nothing more than a punishment to keep people from voting. You cannot provide water to the people who stand to vote. Give me a break, ”he said.
The law, SB 202, states that “[n]o Individuals may solicit votes in any way or by any means or method, nor may a person distribute or display campaign material, nor give, offer or participate in any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink a voter … every day the ballot papers are cast. “
GOP lawmakers who supported the measure say food and water provision has been initiated in an effort to prevent publicizing votes and elections or influencing voters.
The law states that under the law, election workers can still bring water from a well or water bottles to people in line.
I was proud to sign SB 202 to ensure that the elections in Georgia are safe, fair and accessible. I appreciate the hard work the members of the General Assembly have done to make voting and cheating easier. pic.twitter.com/1ztPnfD6rd
– Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) March 25, 2021
The law has been criticized by constituencies for potentially suppressing the vote of black voters.
These groups have found that black voters in the state can often wait in long lines for an option, and they see water and food as a goal for those voters.
The law would also restrict the use of ballot boxes in the state, including requiring voters in Georgia to provide photo ID for postal voting, among other things.
