Proposed Georgia Election Law Changes Ahead of 2024 Presidential Election

The proposed changes to Georgia’s election laws have sparked controversy and concern among election officials in the state. With nearly a dozen bills advancing ahead of the 2024 presidential election, the landscape of elections in Georgia could be drastically altered.

Milton Kidd, the director of elections and registration in Douglas County, Georgia, has been vocal about the impact of these potential changes. He expressed his worries about the new regulations that have constricted his office’s resources and changed the way they operate. Kidd emphasized the importance of valuing elections in the country and raised concerns about the laws being passed that do not reflect that value.

According to a report by the Voting Rights Lab, more than half of U.S. states have enacted laws since 2021 that could limit voter access and hinder election officials’ ability to administer elections. In Georgia, new election measures passed by the Republican-led state Legislature are awaiting Governor Brian Kemp’s signature and could further complicate the way elections offices operate.

One of the key concerns raised by election workers is the potential impact on poll worker recruitment. The heightened regulations and increased complexity of the role could deter people from applying to become temporary poll workers. Joseph Kirk, an elections supervisor in Bartow County, Georgia, highlighted the fear among poll workers about making mistakes and the atmosphere of animosity created by the new laws.

The threat of investigations and potential felony charges for election workers has also raised concerns about the future of election administration in Georgia. The laws passed in recent years have changed the way elections are run and could increase the workload of election offices, leading to fears of mistakes being made under tight deadlines.

As Georgia faces the possibility of a runoff election in 2024, the shortened timeline for runoff elections could further strain election workers. With only one week to count the results, reprogram equipment, print new ballots, and send out absentee ballot application forms, election offices could be overwhelmed by the quick turnaround.

Overall, the proposed changes to Georgia’s election laws have created a sense of uncertainty and apprehension among election officials and workers in the state. The impact of these laws on the recruitment of poll workers and the administration of elections remains a significant concern as the state prepares for the upcoming presidential election.