ACLU Comment on the Georgia Primary Elections

WASHINGTON— Today Election Day voting begins for the Georgia primary elections.

The following comment is from Sophia Lin Lakin, deputy director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project:

“This is the first time many voters in Georgia will be voting under SB 202, the state’s sweeping voter suppression law. This bill makes absentee voting more difficult, criminalizes expressing a message of support for Georgia voters waiting in line by providing a sip of water, allows state takeover of county elections, and guts state funding for local elections.

“Rather than act to expand participation in the political process, Georgia leaders responded by doing what they have done many times in the state’s history: they placed burdensome, unjustified, and unnecessary restrictions on voters, particularly voters of color. As Election Day voting begins in the state today, the ACLU and our partners in the region are watching closely to ensure the civil liberties of Georgia voters are not violated.”