What’s in Georgia law? Voters can send ballots without a photo ID; the personal requirements are not changed

What’s actually in the account?

Among the most sensational provisions of the controversial new Georgian electoral law is a change in the way the state verifies the identity of voters who request and cast the absent votes.

The change eliminates signature-matching – a process that can sometimes be subjective – as the method of confirming the absence of voters’ identities. Instead, if voters have a driver’s license number or a state ID number, they should use it to verify who they are.

This change has been criticized by many because it will make it more difficult for Georgians, especially minorities who prefer more Democrats, to vote by post.

“The new election bill in Georgia is not about showing ID to vote,” wrote Atlantic writer Jemele Hill. “Republicans are salty, the state has turned blue, and they are indignant at the fact that black voters have taken away their power. They want a tumultuous game because they are too lazy to come up with a new vision and to vote. to compete. “

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“Georgia’s new law sets a new ID requirement to return an absent ballot. There’s no reason to do it other than Trump’s lies,” he said. added Popular information writer Judd Legum.

“Previously, Georgian law required voters to simply sign their absentee ballot applications. Now they will have to provide the number of a driver’s license or an equivalent proof of identity,” The New York Times wrote in a statement on the law. “It is virtually certain that it restricts access to the absence of votes.”

But under the new law, voters in Georgia who do not have a photo ID are still provided with a menu of options to confirm their identity when requesting or submitting an absent ballot.

According to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office, voters can also verify their identity with the last four digits of their Social Security number; a utility bill; a bank statement; a government control; a salary; or another government document with their name and address on it.

Voting requests for absentees can be submitted electronically so that voters can add a photo of their photo ID – or one of the other forms of identification allowed if they do not have one. For postal votes, voters can write their photo ID number. If they do not have it, they can write down the last four digits of their social security number plus their date of birth, Raffensperger’s office said. And in the extremely rare case that a voter does not have one, they can add a copy of a utility bill or other similar document with their name and address.

This virtually ensures that voters never have to pay for copying services to submit an absent ballot.

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The Raffensperger office noted that Georgians need a photo ID to register to vote for this new law and that it will require one once it is passed. The difference is simply limited to what is required if you request and cast absent votes.

During an interview with The Daily Signal, Georgia Kov, Brian Kemp, also noted that voters without driver’s licenses or IDs can still prove who they are with various documents.

“And I think it’s going to be a big help and it will in no way alienate anyone or give them the opportunity to vote, because most people have these IDs,” Kemp said. “If they do not, we will give it away for free. And even if you do not have it, there are provisions in the bill where you can still get an absent ballot by submitting other documents listed in the legislation. . “

Raffensperger separately defended that the state’s ID is required for absentee ballots.

“There is no rational argument against requiring state identification – free of charge to those who do not have a driving license – for absent ballot papers,” the foreign minister said late last month. “I implemented our first version from last year; every request for absence of ballot papers submitted through the state website was referenced with the driver’s license database and other records.”

It is noteworthy that Georgia’s photo ID for personal votes, which has been in existence for years, has not changed.

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Raffensperger added: “The left said the photo ID for personal votes would suppress votes. It did not. Registration and turnout skyrocketed, and it set new records with each election cycle. Their disastrous predictions about the consequences of “This law is simply unfounded. The next election will prove it, but I will not hold my breath to wait for the left and the media to admit that they were wrong.”

The Foreign Minister also noted that the vast majority of voters should not experience any problems with the new law. This is because 99% of active voters already have a driver’s license, a social security number or another valid ID number with the state.

Stephen Lawson, the deputy executive director of Kelly Loeffler’s group “Greater Georgia”, said that total nonsense is being driven by Stacey Abrams and the Democrats. “The fact is that this law increases access and strengthens the integrity of our election – that’s why Georgia was proud to support it.”

Republicans outside Georgia have also sharply criticized opponents of the law for allegedly misrepresenting it.

“More than 70 percent of Americans, including a majority of Democrats and a majority of independents, are in favor of the requirement for voter ID requirements; nevertheless, Georgia will accept alternatives to driver’s licenses to verify absentee voters,” he said. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, Senate Minority Leader, R-Ky. ., Said in a statement Monday. “All the facts refute the great lie.”

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“You will have all voters multiple ways to prove who they are. Driver’s license, last four numbers of your social security number, even your account or a free ID provided by the state of Georgia,” former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie , said on Sunday ‘ABC’ This Week ‘.

“Georgia’s new election integrity law contains a sound mind to secure its absent voting system,” Jessica Anderson, president of Heritage Action, told Fox News in a statement.

“Georgia has for years required photographers to vote in person, and now the same requirement applies to absentee ballots,” she continued. “This is a smart move to ensure that it is easy to vote in Georgia and difficult to cheat and restore Georgians’ confidence in their electoral system. Anyone who calls for boycotts clearly does not have the facts about have not read the law. “

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Anger over the new voting law has led to huge pressure on companies in Georgia, such as Delta and Coca-Cola, to condemn it. Major League Baseball even moved its annual All-Star Game from Atlanta.

The bill also contains a variety of other provisions, many of which are controversial.

It legalizes ballot papers, which would not be allowed in future elections, independent of the new law – but places some limits on when the boxes are accessible. It also makes the window smaller for attendee tuning; expands early mood; and shifts the responsibility in the State Electoral Council of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to a “non-partisan” nominee elected by the state legislature; amongst other things.

Fox News’ Cameron Cawthorne contributed to this report.