Peach Tree Times

A federal court has upheld key provisions of Georgia's Election Integrity Act, dismissing a challenge by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) without finding evidence of racial discrimination. The court case involved Georgia Senate Bill 202 (SB202) and challenged five provisions within the law, including restrictions on drop boxes, banning the distribution of items to voters in line, altering the absentee application deadline, disallowing certain provisional ballots, and requiring identification for absentee voting. Plaintiffs argued that these provisions intentionally discriminated against black voters, citing violations of the Fourteenth Amendment, Fifteenth Amendment, and Voting Rights Act's Section 2.

However, the court rejected the assertion of racial discrimination in the law's intent. It also noted that the law includes measures often supported by Democrats, such as allocating more staff, equipment, and polling places in high-traffic precincts. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger expressed his support for the court's decision, stating, "Today, the Court confirmed what we’ve been saying all along. SB202 strengthens election integrity while increasing the opportunity for Georgia voters to cast a ballot."

Under SB202, Georgia saw record voter turnout. A post-SB202 implementation survey cited by the court indicated widespread voter satisfaction, including a 99.5% satisfaction rate among black voters in the November 2022 election. The law reduced the early application period for mail-in ballots from 180 days to 11 weeks, affecting a broader range of voters except for specific exemptions like age, disability, military service, or overseas residence. However, it also expanded early voting by mandating an additional Saturday and allowing counties to opt for Sunday voting, granting flexibility in voting hours, particularly benefiting smaller counties. SB202 also enabled the early processing of absentee ballots two weeks before the election, aiming to enhance the efficiency of the vote counting process. Additionally, the legislation provided flexibility in voting equipment allocation for smaller, lower-turnout elections, departing from a fixed ratio and allowing local election officials to adapt based on various factors.

Chris Carr | Attorney General Office of Georgia

Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr celebrated the court's ruling, stating, "A federal judge has once again ruled against the DOJ in its frivolous attempt to stop our Election Integrity Act." He urged the Biden administration to drop the lawsuit, which has been ongoing for two years.

The court's decision is a significant victory for supporters of Georgia's Election Integrity Act and highlights the importance of maintaining election integrity while ensuring access to the ballot box. As the legal dispute comes to a close, attention now turns to the upcoming election year, where key provisions of the voting law will remain in place.