From Politico - Georgia Republicans passed The Elections Integrity Act of 2021, which calls for election reform after countless accusations of voter fraud during the 2020 election. Although most of the fraud claims have since been disputed by the courts and election officials, Georgia Republicans view the recent act's passing as a necessary move to boost Americans' confidence in future elections.
The Elections Integrity Act of 2021:
Requires voters have a valid state-issued photo ID if they wish to vote via absentee ballot
Mandates that each county have at least one ballot drop box
Limits any additional drop boxes totaling the lesser of either one drop box for every 100,000 active registered voters in the county or the number of advanced voting locations in the county
Requires ballot drop boxes to be located either at the office of the board of registrars, at the ballot clerk, or inside early voting locations
Requires ballot drop boxes to be closed when early voting isn't being conducted
Allows the state legislature to take over the power from local elections officials
Cuts the time people have to request absentee ballots
Makes it illegal for anyone to hand out free items such as water and food to people who wait in line to vote
Shortens runoff elections
Removes the secretary of state from the state election board
How are congressional Democrats responding legislatively? The For the People Act of 2021, passed by the House of Representatives on March 3, seeks to
Expand voting by mail
Expand early voting
Open ballot access by creating automatic voter registration nationwide
Restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts
Bring transparency to a campaign finance system that allows wealthy donors to anonymously bankroll political causes
The For the People Act of 2021 faces an uncertain future in the Senate, as it has unanimous disapproval from Senate Republicans, who believe it would give the federal government too much power and potential to interfere with states' elections.
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