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A Georgia judge has refused to block a portion of the state’s election law that prohibits people from handing out food and water in certain parts of the ballot line.
This section received a lot of attention last year when the state legislature was considering an election overhaul bill. On Thursday, a judge told a voting group challenging the ruling that the ruling would remain in place while the case was pending.
Thursday’s ruling means the restrictions will go into effect during the crucial midterm contest in Peach State, which features a Senate contest that could overthrow Senate control.
Georgia’s record primary turnout prompts another media reckoning after voting law compared to ‘Jim Crow’
Activists have denounced the election bill as an attempt to suppress voters, and President Joe Biden has called it “Jim Crow 2.0.”
Several groups highlighted the inhumaneness of food and water supplies. However, the law is specific regarding where food and water rations are prohibited. The bill also makes clear that the section is designed to prevent soliciting votes “in every way”.
No one may give gifts, distribute campaign materials, serve food or drink, or sign petitions “within 150 feet of the perimeter of the building where the polling place is located and within the polling place.” You can’t ask for it. [or] Within 25 feet of voters queuing at a polling place,” the bill states.
Warnock pushes Georgia vote deterrence claim even as voters break turnout record
The state argued that the election was too close to change the law.
U.S. District Judge JP Boulee appeared to agree with the state’s view that changing the law just before November was inappropriate, but said the issue had not been resolved.
Mr. Boulee agreed that the plaintiffs filed their lawsuits in a timely manner, but was shaken by their desire to unify the rules across all elections in this cycle.
He said rules in November that differed from those introduced in the primary earlier this year could cause confusion among election officials and further undermine confidence in the election.
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“Although there is some evidence on record that an order directing the enforcement of food and drink and gift bans within supplementary territories is not the most complex change electoral officials have had to implement near the election. , there is significant evidence that an injunction would undermine the state’s interests in avoiding voter confusion, maintaining a smooth and orderly electoral process, and promoting confidence in that process,” he wrote.