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SB29 Introduced: Bill seeks two copies of photo ID to vote absentee

ATLANTA – Today, lawmakers introduced a bill on the floor of the Georgia Senate seeking to increase requirements for absentee voters via photo ID rules. ID is already required for all registered voters so this law only increases the effort on the voter to cast their ballot. See below for more context from the AJC:

“Georgia voters would be required to make copies of their photo ID and mail them to election officials twice before being allowed to cast an absentee ballot, according to a bill introduced Wednesday.

The legislation, Senate Bill 29, would create a photo ID requirement for voting outside of polling places in Georgia. Voters would need to submit ID both when applying for absentee ballots and when returning them.

The bill is the first major proposal to limit absentee voting after Republican Donald Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden in last year’s presidential election. State and local election officials have said there’s little indication of fraud besides isolated cases.

State Sen. Jason Anavitarte, a freshman Republican from Dallas who introduced the bill, didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment. State law already requires photo ID when voting in person.

Fair Fight, a voting rights group, said Republicans are trying to increase their chances of winning elections by preventing eligible Georgians from casting ballots.

“By requiring access to a printer, which many Georgians obviously do not have, Republicans are attempting to purposely take away the ability of many Georgians to vote by mail simply because they believe too many Democrats and too many people of color voted by mail,” said Fair Fight spokesman Seth Bringman.”

Absentee voting has traditional been utilized by more Republican voters than Democrats until Dems leaned into it in the face of 2020’s pandemic conditions. Over 1 million Georgian’s voted absentee and it proved to be a safe, secure alternative for all.

An audit of absentee ballot signatures by the GBI and secretary of state’s office found no cases of fraud among 15,000 ballots reviewed.

The idea of mandating some form of photo ID has the support of powerful Republicans in Georgia, including Gov. Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Gov. Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston.

Under the legislation, Georgia voters would be required to submit a photocopy of their driver’s license, voter ID card, U.S. Passport, government employee ID, military ID card or tribal identification card. Members of the military and overseas voters would be exempt from having to return photo ID.”

Source: AJC

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