Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signs bill restricting voting rights into law

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Thursday signed into law the controversial election-law bill, imposing new restrictions on the voting access to citizens in a state that was pivotal to securing Democratic control of the White House and the US Senate this year.

Kemp signed the bill less than two hours after it received final passage in the Republican-controlled Georgia General Assembly.

The bill, known as the Election Integrity Act of 2021, passed the state House 100-75 earlier on Thursday, before the state Senate quickly agreed to House changes 34-20. Republicans in the legislature were in support, while Democrats were opposed.

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Democrats and voting rights groups say the law will disproportionately disenfranchise voters of colour. The package is part of a national Republican effort that aims to restrict access to the ballot box following record turnout in the November election.

Reportedly, the Georgia bill — SB 202 — would limit drop boxes to the inside of early voting locations during voting hours, make giving food or drinks to a voter a misdemeanour, allow for unlimited challenges to voter registrations and eligibility, and grant state officials broad rights, including the ability to replace local election officials.

However, earlier on Thursday, addressing his first White House press conference, President Joe Biden said he will “do everything” in his power to halt efforts to restrict voting rights, saying that he thinks the efforts underway in state legislatures are “un-American.”

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Republicans believe the legislation is necessary to boost confidence in elections after the 2020 election saw then-President Donald Trump make repeated, unsubstantiated claims of fraud.

Republican changes to voting laws in Georgia follow record-breaking turnout that led to Democratic victories in the presidential contest and two U.S. Senate runoffs in the once reliably red state.