The 2021 Legislative session is quickly coming to a finish. Today marks the 32nd day of the 40-day session, and lawmakers could spend a lot of the time in the last few days of the session on an election reform bill.
Both the House and Senate have passed their own versions of an omnibus elections bill. And many around the state Capitol seem to think at least one will come to a vote this week. Some have suggested that members of the House will amend Senate Bill 241 by adding key components of HB 531 and coming up with one version.
Both bills have been controversial and have had their own amount of drama attached to them. In the Senate, SB 241 — introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton) — passed by a slim 29-20 margin. The victory came despite the actions of Lt. Governor and four other Republican Senators. Duncan, who vocally opposed the bill but does not have a vote, chose to leave the Senate Chamber during discussions and the vote on the bill. He turned the gavel over to Senate Pro Tem Butch Miller and walked to his office when the bill came up. Duncan has said he opposes efforts to severely limit absentee voting. Duncan’s action seemed to upset the large majority of his caucus, and insiders said he could have still presided over the vote even if he disagreed with the aspects of 241.
Four Republican Senators also chose to sit out 241. State Sens. John Albers (R-Roswell), Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta), Brian Strickland (R-McDonough and Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) all excused themselves from the vote.
According to Dugan, SB 214 “addresses the lack of faith and integrity in our current election systems. B 241 codifies open and honest reformation to a multitude of areas regarding election oversight, voting processes, and transparency.”
SB 241 is broken into 21 sections. Among the highlights, this legislation introduces a broad range of qualifications that are valid excuses for absentee mail-in voting including: work interference, physical disability or being a caregiver of someone with a physical disability, incarceration prior to to being convicted, age 65 or over, observance of a religious holiday or performing election official duties.
As written, SB 241 does away with no-excuse absentee voting and requires more voter ID.
Members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) and Chairwoman Senator Tonya Anderson (D – Lithonia) issued a statement following the passage of this bill, calling it a “kneejerk reaction to the 202 election.”
House Bill 531, sponsored by Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) would create tighter restrictions on in-person voting, vote counting and absentee balloting. It adds an ID requirement for absentee ballot requests and requires a copy of other identifying info like a utility bill, if the voter lacks a government ID. It also limits the number of absentee ballot drop boxes, and requires drop boxes to be kept indoors.
There has also been some drama surrounding the passage of this bill. Following passage of the bill by the House, the Hancock County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to ask Fleming (R-Harlem) to resign as county attorney.
