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Election integrity and the Peach State - What does the new voting law in Georgia mean for voters?

Mar 26, 2021

2 min

Stephen Farnsworth

It’s a law that passed in record time. Georgia politics is once again capturing the national spotlight and headlines with The Election Integrity Act of 2021.


Here’s what it means in a nutshell:


“The new law imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, empowers state officials to take over local elections boards, limits the use of ballot drop boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters in line to give them food and water.


"It's like the Christmas tree of goodies for voter suppression," Democratic state Sen. Jen Jordan said on the Senate floor as lawmakers prepared to vote on the nearly 100-page bill Thursday.


Republicans cast the measure, dubbed The Election Integrity Act of 2021, as necessary to boost confidence in elections after the 2020 election saw Trump make repeated, unsubstantiated claims of fraud.


By Thursday evening, a lawsuit challenging the new law had already been filed by a trio of voting rights groups: the New Georgia Project, the Black Voters Matter Fund and Rise Inc.


"In large part because of the racial disparities in areas outside of voting -- such as socioeconomic status, housing, and employment opportunities -- the Voter Suppression Bill disproportionately impacts Black voters, and interacts with these vestiges of discrimination in Georgia to deny Black voters (an) equal opportunity to participate in the political process and/or elect a candidate of their choice," the lawsuit states. March 26 – CNN



The new law is under a lot of scrutiny and is getting a lot of coverage. If you are a journalist looking for expert perspective on the legality and legitimacy of new law, what it may mean for future elections in Georgia voters and potentially voters across America, then let us help.


Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is a sought-after political commentator on presidential politics. He has been widely featured in national media, including The Washington Post, Reuters, The Chicago Tribune and MSNBC. Dr. Farnsworth is available to speak with media any time regarding the election and its aftermath – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.



Connect with:
Stephen Farnsworth

Stephen Farnsworth

Professor of Political Science and International Affairs

Dr. Farnsworth has spent decades researching how media and politics intersect. Check out his website at stephenfarnsworth.net.

American ElectionsAmerican GovernmentThe American PresidencyInternet PoliticsMass Media and Politics

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