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There was significant news today on another legal front. In Washington, DC, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Justice Department is suing Georgia over its new electoral law. NPR Justice Correspondent Ryan Lucas reports on this and now joins us.
First, Ryan, what does the new Georgia law do in one particular context?
RYAN LUCAS, BYLINE: Remember Georgia was at the center of the political universe for the last year. It switched from red to blue in the presidential election, sending two new Democratic senators to the US Senate, and giving the Democrats control of that chamber. A few months later, in March, the Republican-led Georgia state legislature passed this new electoral law, and it fundamentally changes the way people vote in the state. The Republicans who authored it say it will expand electoral access and improve electoral administration in the confidence of voters. Opponents say, however, that it is discriminatory and makes it difficult for people to vote, especially those of color. The Justice Department, under Biden’s administration, has carefully examined this law and has now filed a lawsuit contesting several aspects that it believes are discriminatory.
CORNISH: What exactly are you claiming?
LUCAS: The ministry’s complaint states that aspects of the law violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. And section 2 prohibits any voting process or process that discriminates on the basis of race, skin color or belonging to a linguistic minority. In the case of the Georgia Act, the department is now arguing that several regulations make it difficult for blacks in the state to vote, and specifically. The lawsuit objects to several provisions related to postal voting documents, including the prohibition on distributing unsolicited postal voting requests, reducing the deadline for requesting postal voting, and restricting the use of postal voting boxes. This is Kristen Clarke. She heads the civil rights department of the Ministry of Justice.
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KRISTEN CLARKE: The provisions we are contesting reduce access to postal voting at every step of the process and push more black voters to vote in person.
LUCAS: And Clarke said that when black voters go to the polls in Georgia, they are more likely than white voters to have to wait in long lines. And she says a provision that forbids people to give food or water to those who stand to vote is also discriminatory.
CORNISH: That was such a political fight in Georgia – wasn’t it? – just pass these laws. I mean what did state officials say?
LUCAS: Well, they’re not overly enthusiastic. Republican state governor Brian Kemp, who signed this bill – he made a statement saying the lawsuit was, quoted, “born out of the lies and misinformation that the Biden government opposed to Georgia law has urged “. He accused the Justice Department of being used as a weapon. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger also criticized the department, saying he looks forward to meeting them and beating them in court. Proxy voting, on the other hand, was unsurprisingly welcomed this lawsuit. They say this is an important step in defending the rights of black voters.
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In the meantime, what happens now?
LUCAS: Well, this is the first major action we’ve seen by the Biden Justice Department to protect voting rights and challenge one of more than one of more than a dozen new laws being passed by GOP-led states opponents say they limit voting. Here’s a bit of what Attorney General Merrick Garland had to say today.
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MERRICK GARLAND: This lawsuit is the first of many steps we are taking to ensure that all eligible voters have one vote, that all legitimate votes are counted, and that every voter has access to accurate information.
LUCAS: Garland has made it clear that protecting voting rights is a priority for him and the Justice Department under his leadership. The Biden administration was very important. And Garland said the department is investigating laws in other states, and if the department finds any of those laws violating Americans’ voting rights, he said the department will not hesitate to take action.
CORNISH: This is Ryan Lucas from NPR.
Thank you for this update.
LUCAS: Thank you.
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