Republicans In Georgia Senate Begin Moving Bills That Would Revamp Election Process

Georgia lawmakers voted along party lines Wednesday morning to move several pieces of legislation one step closer to law, including measures that would add restrictions to absentee voting. The votes took place in simultaneous Senate Ethics subcommittees.

Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Mullis of Chickamauga, would end Georgia’s no-excuse absentee system that has been in place since 2005 and instead require voters to give a reason why they should be allowed to vote absentee. The approved reasons include age, disability, and being out of the county at the time of the election, among others. Voters would need to provide some form of supporting documentation.

Mullis said he believed his district underperformed in voter turnout during the most recent election cycle because of a lack of voter confidence in the security of the election.