Governor Brian Kemp signs the much-criticized Election Integrity Act of 2021. Photograph: Governor Brian Kemp’S Twitter Fe/Reuters
The law (SB202) passed in Georgia on March 25, 2021, restricts voting in several different ways. The 96- page bill allows the state legislature to seize the power of county election boards. As a result, the state legislature—usually heavily slanted toward rural areas—can disqualify Democratic voters in more urban areas.
This law also allows any Georgia citizen to challenge the eligibility of an unlimited number of voters. Although citizens could challenge voters' eligibility, they were limited in the number of challenges they could make. Thus, large groups of voters could not be challenged and therefore intimidated. More importantly, if Republicans challenge large groups of voters in a county, and the state legislature seizes the election board, Republicans can systematically disenfranchise Democratic-leaning voters.
Another provision of this bill eliminates signature matching for identification in absentee voting in favor of requiring copies of documents such as bank statement, current utility bills, or other state documentation. Obtaining copies of these documents, if a prospective voter has them, may be a barrier for the elderly or poor.
Taken together, the provisions in this bill slants the Georgia election process toward single party rule. And single party rule is authoritarianism or fascism.
This law also allows any Georgia citizen to challenge the eligibility of an unlimited number of voters. Although citizens could challenge voters' eligibility, they were limited in the number of challenges they could make. Thus, large groups of voters could not be challenged and therefore intimidated. More importantly, if Republicans challenge large groups of voters in a county, and the state legislature seizes the election board, Republicans can systematically disenfranchise Democratic-leaning voters.
Another provision of this bill eliminates signature matching for identification in absentee voting in favor of requiring copies of documents such as bank statement, current utility bills, or other state documentation. Obtaining copies of these documents, if a prospective voter has them, may be a barrier for the elderly or poor.
Taken together, the provisions in this bill slants the Georgia election process toward single party rule. And single party rule is authoritarianism or fascism.
| The actions of the Georgia Republicans update the long story of Republicans working against American democracy. Below is my article from further describing this very worrisome goal. posted earlier this month. |
Republicans Have Rejected Democracy
March 15, 2021
Some Democrats and others refuse to recognize that Republicans signal they intend to sabotage our democracy. Centrist Democrats and others hope each Republican statement or act that undermines our government will be the last before Republicans return to normalcy. But for a variety of reasons, Republicans no longer have the same goals as Democrats. Too many Republicans have become radicalized against our democracy. They have stopped acknowledging the legitimacy of the institutions and procedures that underlie our democracy. And now they refuse to collaborate in governing with Democrats. They even reject the reality that a Democrat won the Presidency. These Republicans believe our democracy robs them of their God-given benefits. They want to return to a democracy that they believe will restore their advantages.
The most extreme Republicans do not believe that they can restore a democracy that benefits them through conventional means. They think they must resort to the extraordinary means of obstruction, obfuscation, and violence. Despite contradictory evidence, centrists continue to believe, "the fever will break." Centrists seem to underestimate the extent to which Republicans have become disaffected from our form of democracy. These centrists seem to think that if they admit extremist Republicans intend to destroy our democracy, it will force them to counter the insurrection equally forcefully. Centrists are not comfortable considering the use of extreme actions, even to break the fever.
The most extreme Republicans do not believe that they can restore a democracy that benefits them through conventional means. They think they must resort to the extraordinary means of obstruction, obfuscation, and violence. Despite contradictory evidence, centrists continue to believe, "the fever will break." Centrists seem to underestimate the extent to which Republicans have become disaffected from our form of democracy. These centrists seem to think that if they admit extremist Republicans intend to destroy our democracy, it will force them to counter the insurrection equally forcefully. Centrists are not comfortable considering the use of extreme actions, even to break the fever.
