The Parent Press: Week 3 of the 2021 Legislative Session
Greetings!
The third week of the Legislative Session brought major developments, as Republicans introduced a package of bills that outlined their plans to restrict voting rights.
More than 10 pieces of legislation have been introduced, all of which attack different aspects of the voting process: mail-in voting, ballot dropboxes, voter registration, poll watcher access and more. While I am deeply concerned about all of these bills, I am particularly worried about the proposals to end no-excuse absentee voting, reverse automatic voter registration at the DMV (i.e. the "Motor Voter" law) and ban 3rd party absentee ballot applications.
Several bills that were introduced may be unconstitutional. Most, if not all, of the bills are unacceptably anti-democratic and fundamentally immoral. Below, I'll include summaries of the most important bills and a list of actions that concerned citizens can take to stand up for our democracy and protect voting rights.
The GOP’s Voter Suppression Agenda
We cannot allow these bills to stand.
First, let me restate a simple truth: there was no widespread fraud in Georgia's recent elections. Multiple recounts have demonstrated that definitively and the state's top Republican officials have affirmed the integrity of our electoral system.
This simple truth has not stopped this complete fabrication – that the election was stolen from President Trump – from gaining traction with an astounding 70% of Republicans nationwide. A poll recently published in the AJC suggested that 76% of Georgia Republicans were among those who trusted Donald Trump’s lies.
As elected officials, we have a responsibility to be faithful to our constituents and tell them the truth about the status of democracy in Georgia. Filing a plethora of bills intended to restrict access to the vote is itself an act of fraud. For those in power – who hold trust and authority with the public, including their voters – to use a lie to justify an anti-democratic act is an inherently fraudulent and corrupted project. Our elections were not "stolen," but what Republicans are trying to do is to steal future elections by changing the rules in a way that they think will benefit “their side.”
If the Senate were to pass these bills, regular citizens, regardless of their party, will lose their power and their voice. If my Republican colleagues take this step – if they choose to disenfranchise Georgians of all political stripes, and take away the ease and efficiency of participating in the democratic process – it will not be popular.
Watch me deliver my speech on voting rights from the Senate floor!
How to Fight Back!
Legislation Status: The newly introduced bills have not yet had committee hearings. It is likely that some of these bills will be heard in the Ethics Committee meetings next week. The Ethics Committee will meet on Monday at 5:45 PM and Thursday at 8 AM. If the committees are streamed online, you will be able to find the link on this page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/senate?page=1.
Actions to Take: if you want to take action to stop these bills, you can make your voice heard by contacting members of the Ethics Committee by phone or email and expressing your opposition to the package of restrictive voting bills. Max Burns (R) is the chairman of the Ethics Committee. Here are the other Republican members of the committee:
Dean Burke — Vice Chairman
Butch Miller — Member**
Mike Dugan — Member**
Jason Anavitarte — Member
Steve Gooch — Member
Bo Hatchett — Member
Randy Robertson — Member
Brian Strickland — Member
** Butch Miller is the President Pro Tempore of the Senate & Mike Dugan is the Majority Leader. It would be especially helpful to contact their offices to voice your concerns, because they are in positions of power in the Senate!
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Updates
This dashboard is updated with real-time vaccination information each day. Save this link, and you'll be able to follow Georgia's daily progress: https://datastudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/d848d61a-e99e-4961-b040-02b43edc5bb5/page/ptmtB
We are still in phase 1A+ of the vaccine rollout. I will keep you updated on the status of each phase, and let you know when the process is open to other groups.
Georgia Department of Health Vaccine Hotline: (888) 357-0169 – this number is for questions about the vaccine only! They will not be able to help you schedule appointments.
COVID-19 Vaccine Locator Tool: https://dph.georgia.gov/locations/covid-vaccination-site
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! I will keep you all apprised of any new developments around voting rights, public health and the COVID-19 response, as well as any other important issues that unfold as the Legislative Session continues.