Georgia’s Senate Republicans passed multiple changes to state election law on Wednesday after rushing amendments into a bill originating from the House of Representatives. The overhauled House Bill 397 would remove the State Election Board from oversight by the elected secretary of state, instead granting the board custody of investigative reports and communications between the secretary and local election superintendents.
The Senate passed the bill 33–23, voting along party lines.
The 22-page bill would also prohibit the dropping off of absentee ballots after the advance voting period— a change Democrats argue would suppress voter turnout. Other provisions include altering where poll watchers can be positioned on election night, changing the timing of special elections, and withdrawing Georgia from a multi-state partnership that helps maintain accurate voter rolls.
