Current:Home > reviewsWith 2024 presidential contest looming, Georgia governor signs new election changes into law -Infinite Edge Capital
With 2024 presidential contest looming, Georgia governor signs new election changes into law
View
Date:2025-04-17 05:27:53
ATLANTA (AP) — Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation Tuesday that makes additional changes to Georgia’s election laws ahead of the 2024 presidential contest in the battleground state, including defining probable causes for removing voters from the rolls when their eligibility is challenged.
Republican activists — fueled by debunked theories of a stolen election — have challenged more than 100,000 voters in the state in recent years. The activists say they are rooting out duplicate records and removing voters who have moved out of state.
The bill Kemp signed into law — SB 189 — lists death, evidence of voting or registering in another jurisdiction, a tax exemption indicating a primary residence elsewhere, or a nonresidential address as probable causes for removing voters from the rolls. Most controversially, it says the National Change of Address list can be considered, though not exclusively.
Opponents have said the changes would enable more baseless attacks on voters that would overwhelm election administrators and disenfranchise legitimate voters. For example, people sometimes live at a place of business, which would be considered a nonresidential address. Officials with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office say there are more reliable types of information, such as driver’s license data, to confirm a voter’s eligibility.
The Georgia bill also allows challenges to be accepted and voters removed from the rolls up until 45 days before an election. That provision in part has prompted the threat of lawsuits from liberal groups because federal law says states and counties can’t make systematic changes to voting rolls within 90 days of a federal election.
The measure also says homeless people must use the county voter registration office as their address instead of where they live. Opponents have said that could make it harder for homeless citizens to cast ballots because their registered polling place might be far away.
Additionally, the bill grants access to Georgia’s ballot to any political party that has qualified for the presidential ballot in at least 20 states or territories. The change could bolster independent candidates such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose campaign has spooked Democrats worried it could draw support away from President Joe Biden.
veryGood! (81869)
Related
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- An appeals court won’t revive Brett Favre’s defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe
- A New York woman is challenging Miss America, Miss World rules banning mothers from beauty pageants
- Partial lunar eclipse to combine with supermoon for spectacular sight across U.S.
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- 2024 Emmys: Rita Ora Shares Rare Insight Into Marriage With Taika Waititi
- Model Bianca Balti Shares Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
- 2024 Emmys: Why Fans Are Outraged Over The Bear Being Classified as a Comedy
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Krispy Kreme introduces fall-inspired doughnut collection: See the new flavors
Ranking
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- New Jersey internet gambling sets new record at $198M in revenue, but land casinos lag
- 2024 Emmys: Why Fans Are Outraged Over The Bear Being Classified as a Comedy
- MLB power rankings: Yankees, Aaron Judge get comfortable in AL East penthouse
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Emmys 2024: Sarah Paulson Called Holland Taylor Her “Absolute Rock” and We’re Not OK
- Don't listen to Trump's lies. Haitian chef explains country's rich culinary tradition.
- Shooting leaves 1 dead in Detroit at popular tailgating location after Lions game, police say
Recommendation
As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
All 4 dead aboard plane after weekend crash near runway in rural Alaska
Anna Kendrick Says A Simple Favor Director Paul Feig Made Sequel “Even Crazier”
Krispy Kreme introduces fall-inspired doughnut collection: See the new flavors
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Meryl Streep Had the Best Reaction to Being Compared to a Jockstrap at 2024 Emmys
Model Bianca Balti Shares Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Vote South Dakota forum aims to shed light on ‘complicated’ election