The passing of SB202 could be seen as evidence of our country’s historical relationship with voter representation. For centuries, we have discussed voting as an accessible process that allows citizens to participate in the means of choosing who represents their community, while some of those chosen representatives have operated in self-interest or outside the general will of the people. On March 25, 2021, when Senate Bill 202 passed in the Georgia State Legislature, a concern around election and voter fraud was cited,  leading the legislative body to focus largely on making voter participation a “more secure” and “thorough” process. Questions have been raised around the changes that SB 202 made to the voting process, and whether those changes have created more barriers for eligible community members to fairly access their right to vote.  As we enter into the general election cycle, it is important for all eligible voters to understand, and recognize, what changes have been made, and how those changes affect their ability to cast their ballot in the 2022 November elections.

Early Voting

• There are additional “Mandatory Saturday Voting” hours, and formally codified Sunday voting hours are optional for all early voting locations. 
• Georgia Counties can offer early voting hours, at minimum, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or at most, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Non-poll workers are prohibited from distributing food or water to voters while voters are waiting in line to vote. This rule applies within 150 feet of, or inside a polling location, or within 25 feet of voters who are waiting in line.
• Counties must report, publicly,  how many people have voted in person, and how many absentee ballots have been issued, returned, accepted, and rejected.
• Early voting locations, and hours of operation, must be published and available to voters prior to precinct openings.

 

Absentee Ballots

• The earliest voters may request an absentee or “mail-in” ballot will be 11 weeks/77 days before an election instead of 180 days
• The final deadline to complete an absentee ballot application has been pushed back to two Fridays before election day (Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022)
• Absentee ballot applications may be submitted online through the Secretary of State’s online request portal using a driver’s license number or state ID number
• Secure absentee ballot “drop boxes” are now officially apart of state law, but are limited in use 
  • At least 1 in each county 
  • Only 1 per 100,000 active voters or 1 for every active early voting site is required (whichever number is smaller)
  • The drop boxes will only be accessible during the operating days and hours of in-person, early voting. (Dropboxes will no longer be accessible 24/7)

 

In an ideal world, complete and full access to choosing representation would prove to be an inalienable right. However, in our current state, we must understand that voter registration and voter suppression are different branches growing from the same tree, and a way to actively combat them both is to know the parameters of each. As we all participate in the election process this November, my charge to everyone is to be aware of, not only what SB 202 means and what it has changed, but to be aware that knowing these changes, today, is a privilege. But I do hope each of us does our part to ensure that this privilege is understood to be a right extended to all. 

 

Kermit Thomas

Georgia Equality 

Southern Field Organizer