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DEL.ICIO.USHandel warns against shortening early voting period
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Secretary of State Karen Handel is quietly letting state lawmakers know that she would have serious concerns about any attempt to shorten the state’s 45-day early voting period.
Before and after the Nov. 4 election, some Republican legislators watching the Barack Obama-driven flood of African-American voters talked of curtailing — even eliminating it.
But Handel, who is expected to join the GOP race for governor later this year, is warning against any such move, for both political and legal reasons, we’re told.
First of all, early voting is clearly popular. Picking a fight with 2 million people — who cast 53 percent of the general election vote — may not be the height of wisdom.
Secondly, a U.S. Justice Department under Obama is unlikely to treat the measure kindly. (Georgia is a state covered by the Voting Rights Act, and any changes to election law are subject to federal review.)
Very probably — racial and gender breakdowns aren’t out yet — a record number of African-American voters cast ballots in the 2008 general election. Many, many of them chose to engage in early voting.
One of the key tests facing any change in election law is whether it results in a dilution of minority voting strength. Opponents will merely have to point to black turnout in 2008 to make their case.
Additionally, Republicans could very well hurt their own cause in trying to stem a tool that Democrats adapted as their own. According to state law, early voting is nothing but absentee voting — except that the ballot is delivered in person.
Trimming in-person voting would also affect absentee ballots delivered by mail, a traditional Republican strength. And it would be hard to shorten the period for one without touching the other.
Photo credit: Kimberly Smith/AJC
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Comments
By GoOX
January 7, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
I maybe for OX, but have to agree with Handel on this. It’s hard to take something away that’s already there.
Besides we having bigger issues to face. Like Cagle’s lack of ability to get a transportation plan through last year.