Georgia Republicans look to cut early voting again

[TomCADem]

Source: MSNBC

Georgia Republicans look set to significantly cut their state’s early voting period — the latest fallout from the Supreme Court’s crippling of the Voting Rights Act.

A legislative committee voted on party lines last week to advance a bill that would shorten Georgia’s early voting period to 12 days, from a current maximum of 21 days. It would also bar counties from offering more than four hours of voting on weekends. The state’s early voting period was already cut dramatically just four years ago.

The new move comes after a 2014 election in which 44% of voters — disproportionately minorities — cast their ballot early. Many counties, responding to popular demand, offered Sunday voting for the first time.

* * *
Republicans control Georgia’s government. And if the early voting cuts pass, as expected, the federal government will be powerless to stop them, thanks to the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County ruling. Until then, most southern states, including Georgia, had to get new voting laws approved by the Justice Department before they could go into effect. Since that requirement was neutered, numerous southern states and localities have moved ahead with restrictive voting laws.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/georgia-republicans-look-cut-early-voting-again

[C Moon]

1. Ah...thanks again, Supreme Court. I wonder what someone like Abraham Lincoln would say to them?

[secondwind]

2. The only way to stop this suppression is for people to come out in HUGE NUMBERS in 2016.....

it appears to be the only thing in our favor... they've done just about everything they can to prevent folks from voting.

Here in FL, they have limited early voting on the Sunday before the election, what we call Souls to the Polls....

[Romeo.lima333]

3. you get the government you vote (or dont vote) for.

frankly im surprised they didnt cut all early voting days

[onehandle]

4. The unofficial name of this bill is the 'Block The Darkies' bill...

...probably.

If every eligible minority in Georgia voted each year, the GOP would be finished there.

[geomon666]

5. Making it harder for people to vote.

They must be so proud there in Georgia.

[Fred Sanders]

6. Voter suppression is apparently less newsworthy than snowstorms in winter. It is not a mistake.

[Bandit]

7. Until Democrats wake the fuck up and demand "Vote By Mail" in every state

they can expect no less. Republicans will always seek ways to restrict the vote, ALWAYS.. The state with Vote By Mail had almost double the turn out of every other state in our last election. With Vote By Mail you get almost a full month of "early voting" If you like..What is so hard for Democrats to understand? Vote By Mail benefits EVERYONE....

[YOHABLO]

8. Part of the problem is that people are soooo f...ing lazy they will not vote. Repubs count on it.

Many registered voters in GA (I know, I live here), just don't make the effort. We could actually turn this state blue if people would just get out and vote. But guess who is voting? White Southern Christians. These folks aren't going to make any easier for those who have "difficulty" in voting. They know that that is the only way they can win.

[brooklynite]

9. I'd love to have our early voter period shortened to 12 days...

...in New York, we don't have any.