Thread by @fairfightaction

THREAD: #HB531 is a dangerous attempt to roll back voting rights, and would have devastating consequences for GA voters. Read Fair Fight Action's written testimony against HB 531, submitted to the House Special Committee on Election Integrity: ➡️ StopHB531.com #gapol

#HB531 eliminates Sunday voting.
By rolling back early, absentee, and day-of voting in ways that disproportionately inconvenience voters of color and marginalized groups, this 59 page piece of legislation violates our rights, the Constitution and federal statutes. #gapol

#HB531 would create new ID requirements to vote by mail - ignoring that a full 3% of Georgia voters do not have the proposed ID documents. In Georgia, with more than 7,692,567 registered voters, that means that 230,777 electors do not have the requisite identification. #gapol

#HB531 would require surveillance of drop boxes. This raises the real potential for voter intimidation if armed law enforcement or security personnel are stationed at the box. In addition, the surveillance requirement imposes yet another cost on the counties. #gapol

#HB531 would require a birth date on ballot envelopes, which leads to higher rejection rates. Two federal courts, citing the Voting Rights Act, previously blocked Georgia election officials from rejecting absentee ballots on the basis of an omitted or erroneous birth date. #gapol

#HB531 would criminalize giving voters in line food or water. Groups ranging from the Girl Scouts to Chef José Andres have helped voters exercise patience, tolerance, and respect while waiting in long lines to vote. To prohibit the continuation of that practice is wrong. #gapol

#HB531 is a bad-faith attempt to limit democracy in our state. Georgians deserve elected officials who protect our constitutional rights first and foremost- not their own power above all else. #gapol

Rather than shore up confidence in GA's election system after a storm of attacks and conspiracy theories, #HB531 fuels these conspiracies and undermines the fundamental democratic principle that every citizen’s vote matters and should be counted. StopHB531.com #gapol

GEORGIA VOTERS:
Call these Georgia legislators and demand they OPPOSE #HB531:
Barry Fleming: 404-656-5125
Alan Powell: 404-463-3793
Jan Jones: 404-656-5072
Chuck Martin: 404-656-5146
Lynn Smith: 404-656-7149
Bonnie Rich: 404-656-5087
#gapol

GEORGIA VOTERS:
Call these Georgia legislators and demand they OPPOSE #HB531:
Houston Gaines: 404-656-0298
Barry Fleming: 404-656-5125
Rick Williams: 404-656-0254
Shaw Blackmon: 404-463-7853
Buddy Deloach: 404-656-0178
#gapol