. @Nate_Cohn makes some good points in his piece on GA. But there is more. Looking at a presidential election, including looking at it through the lens of the barriers provided by the pandemic, does not necessarily translate into what could or would happen in a midterm contest. 1
Some research shows that more convenience matters in lower turnout elections. The evidence is not entirely one-sided. And as more people get familiar with absentee voting, more are likely to employ it. 2
At the same time,Cohn ignores the increased capability of state and local figures to cut selectively the number of polling places and create long lines, including in the early voting days, and the ban on water is very important if there are long lines. 3
Where other states have bans on electioneering, including providing water, it is in or close to polling places—not a mile-long line. 4
Since most critical contests in Georgia end up in a runoff, the sharply shortened runoff may be the most important part of this bill, designed, I would argue, to defeat Warnock in 2022. 5
Perhaps more important is that the Republican state legislature has taken almost complete control over the election process and the certification of elections. If this bill had been in effect in 2020, I am almost certain they would have given Georgia’s electoral votes to Trump. 6
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