For Immediate Release
The Chatham County Democratic Committee held a press conference on Friday, March 5, 2021 @ 4PM at the Chatham County Board of Elections to Issue a Statement surrounding HB 531 and SB 241.
Georgia GOP proposed legislation revives Georgia's dark history of voter suppression and racism as state policy.
SAVANNAH, GA March 5, 2021 On March 1, 2021, Georgia House Republicans sided with conspiracy theorists and misinformation spreaders by passing HB 531, legislation that would threaten millions of Georgia voters’ access to the ballot box. All but three Republicans in the Georgia Senate majority are cosponsoring SB 241, a massive elections bill that would give Georgia one of the most restrictive absentee-by-mail voting laws in the country. Both are the latest attempt by lawmakers to make voting harder after Democratic victories.
SB 241 would end no-excuse mail voting, implement new ID requirements, and add witness requirements for mail voters resulting in the worst voter suppression since Jim Crow.
HB 531 restricts drop box access, adds new ID requirements for mail voting, and restricts weekend voting among other provisions all of which demonstrate just how unrelenting the GOP-led Georgia legislature is in their attacks on voting rights.
“Not only are these ID and witness restrictions suppressive and unnecessary, but they are also outwardly discriminatory and would have a disparate impact on Black and other minority voters across our state as well as older voters in single person households. Said Jay Jones, Chairman, Chatham County Democratic Committee. “These proposals would erect a juggernaut of barricades to voting access, reviving Georgia’s dark history of voter suppression and racism as state policy.”
GOP legislators in Georgia have clearly shown that there is an urgent need for federal action to safeguard voting rights and pass HR 1 and JR 4 to protect voters from racist and malicious voter suppression. HB 531 and SB 241 are nothing less than a direct attack on voting rights in Georgia framed by baseless far right conspiracy theories and disinformation that undermines our democracy. They are assaults on democracy that constitute some of the worst attacks on voting rights since reconstruction. Their progress though our legislature shows just how critical it is that Congress pass HR 1 and HR 4 to protect voters and safeguard democracy.
For more information on how to contact your Georgia State representatives and the State Senate Ethics committee responsible for crafting the bills mentioned, please visit www.CCDCGeorgia.COM
The Chatham County Democratic Committee is committed to helping every voter make their voice heard, and ensuring that every Georgian has what they need to make their vote count. Voting resources for all voters continue to be available at https://www.ccdcgeorgia.com/voter
We encourage voters to contact their state representatives to voice their concerns regarding this proposed legislation. Please visit:
MEDIA CONTACT
Catalina Garcia-Quick, President
First City Political Group
510-677-4433
Catalina@firstcitypoliticalgroup.com
#ProtectTheVote
Chatham County Democratic Committee Chairman's Talking Points:
Thank you for coming. Welcome , , ,
- Georgia is at the center of a Nationwide debate over election security despite zero evidence of widespread election fraud.
- Election officials, including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have said there’s
no evidence of widespread fraud that could have changed the election, and the results were verified by recounts and audits.
- This past week, Republicans voted as a caucus to enact the most blatantly racist attacks on voting rights in the South since Jim Crow
- Republicans in the Georgia General Assembly are actively working to change the rules of voting here in our state - rules that THEY WROTE - because they were defeated via one of the largest voter turn outs to an election in history.
- It's worth noting that NONE OF THEM have contested the results of their own general assembly elections.
- Georgia House Republicans sided with conspiracy theorists and misinformation spreaders by passing HB 531, legislation that would threaten millions of Georgia voters’ access to the ballot box.
- HB 531
restricts drop box access, adds new ID requirements for mail voting, and restricts weekend voting among other provisions all of which demonstrate just how unrelenting the GOP-led Georgia legislature is in their attacks on voting rights.
- All but three Republicans in the Georgia Senate majority are cosponsoring SB 241, a massive elections bill that would give Georgia one of the most restrictive absentee-by-mail voting laws in the country.
- SB 241
- would end no-excuse mail voting, implement new ID requirements, and add witness requirements for mail voters resulting in the worst voter suppression since Jim Crow.
- These actions would put new restrictive limits on absentee voting - which was used by a record 1.3M voters across the state - right here in Chatham County.
- This proposed legislation goes after the backbone of our community - of our state - by restricting access.
- Chatham County hosts primarily manufacturing, service industry, and health care workers. Shift workers. Low income workers. Seniors. People who rely on public transportation.
- No one is arguing against identification. We have that. The republicans wrote the current rules. This is about access. If passed, this legislation will Create obstacles to voting that will do more to reduce turnout than increase election security
- For more information on this bill and how to contact your state representatives, go to ccdcgeorgia.com/statenews