ATLANTA — As Georgia Republicans continue trying to force through their self-described “reactionary” bills that restrict voting rights (despite not having “identified a problem”) in an attempt to give themselves a so-called “shot at winning,” it’s time for Republican lawmakers to answer: do they agree with their fellow voter suppressors in Arizona who have claimed that some eligible voters “shouldn’t be voting”?
Yesterday, CNN reported new comments made by Arizona State Representative John Kavanagh who chairs a state house committee overseeing elections in which he claimed “Democrats value as many people as possible voting…but everybody shouldn’t be voting.” Kavanagh even made the connection to racist voting regimes from the Jim Crow era clear when he said that “we have to look at the quality of votes, as well.”
But even after Kavanagh’s appalling comments, Georgia Republicans have remained silent as they’re still trying to force through their own voter suppression bills including HB 531 and SB 241 which include provisions that would drastically chip away at Georgians voting rights. HB 531 would lead to longer lines and limit weekend voting while SB 241 would end no-excuse absentee voting — and both bills would place new burdensome and unnecessary ID requirements on Georgia voters.
“These disgusting comments made by Georgia Republicans’ voter suppression allies in Arizona show just how clear the connection is between their Jim Crow 2.0 agenda and the justification given to deny voting rights for people of color in the days of the initial Jim Crow,” said Fair Fight Action CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo. “Enough is enough. Georgia Republicans’ silence on these comments shows the true intentions behind these racist and unconstitutional bills that restrict voting rights across the board — and particularly for communities of color. It’s past time for Georgia leaders from all sectors to step up and fight this dangerous anti-voting legislation.”
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