Peach Tree Times

Governor Kemp of Atlanta recently signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 189, an omnibus elections bill combined with HB 976. The bill was expedited through the legislature at the last minute. This new law mandates that unhoused voters use the county registrars’ office as their mailing address, a requirement that may make it difficult for them to receive mail effectively.

The potential implications of this law have raised concerns among various stakeholders. Aunna Dennis, Executive Director of Common Cause Georgia, voiced her apprehensions about the legislation: “This law will only cause more harm to Georgia voters. These unrealistic burdens will leave election workers scrambling to implement the new changes with barely enough time before the November election."

Dennis further criticized the Georgia legislature for disregarding input from election directors statewide on these provisions and their potential impact on conducting elections. She stated, "The Georgia legislature ignored the input of election directors from across the state about these provisions and how it would impact their ability to conduct elections, continuing their pattern of imposing unfunded mandates in the name of solving problems that do not exist."

She concluded by affirming Common Cause Georgia's commitment to educating the public about this controversial law and its potential effects on voters and election workers.