Georgians could get vote to make English the state’s official language

While Georgia law already declares English as the state’s official language, the state Senate on Monday agreed to ask voters to write that mandate into the state Constitution.

Senate Resolution 675 won a two-thirds majority in the Senate for approval but, because it proposes to change the Constitution, it must do the same in the House before it could be placed on the ballot in November.

The chamber’s Democrats called the measure discriminatory because it would prohibit any government publications from being printed in multiple languages. For instance, they said, the state’s driver’s license test would be administered only in English.

State Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, the legislation's sponsor, defended the measure and said it promoted proficiency.