Gov. Signs 3 Huge Election Integrity Bills Ahead Of Nov. 2024

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed three major pieces of legislation in early May that will improve ballot security, voter verification, and auditing of the November 2024 presidential elections.

When combined House Bill 974, House Bill 1207, and Senate Bill 189, aim to support Georgia citizens through the 2024 elections. The move by Kemp to sign these bills into the state’s legislation seemed to come as a surprise to some but is a huge win for those concerned about election integrity.

What Will The Bills Do?

House Bill 974 was specifically written to enhance ballot security in a number of ways, including mandating that ballots used in optical scan voting systems and ballot marking devices be printed as hard copies with specific watermarks, as summarized by the Gateway Pundit. Absentee ballots will also be scanned to create a digital image, which will be maintained through a statewide system managed by the Secretary of State.

Risk-limiting audits will be expanded to ensure the accuracy of election outcomes using statistical probabilities. Transparency will also be enhanced for the public, including audits to take place in public view.

Election Procedures & Integrity

All those involved in Georgia’s election process, specifically those hired or retained by county election superintendents, must be citizens, per House Bill 1207. The same bill allows the reopening of candidate’s qualifying period, should none qualify within the initial period. Ballot proofing and accuracy, as well as processes related to poll watcher regulations, will also be updated, allowing more transparency.

Criminal offenses will be instituted in relation to election interference, including those related to tampering with voting equipment. (LEARN MORE: State Finds County Violated Election Law In 2022)

Ballots & Behaviors

Senate Bill 189 focuses more on ballot access, voter eligibility, absentee ballots, scanning of ballots, as well as election date adjustments. But the bill also notes important updates to conflict of interest rules for state and local election officers, particularly those who may have dealings with companies who manufacture voting equipment or other services related to ballot tabulation.

Georgia’s Secretary of State will now become a non-voting ex-officio member of the state board of elections. (LEARN MORE: Interview Suggests New Evidence On Voter Machine Issues In 2020)

Huge Win For Georgia

Though these bills are specifically designed to help secure Georgia’s election process, some have called them racist. “We have a history here of using racist policies, of using race-neutral language that is racially targeted, in order to purify the ballot box, in order to ensure election integrity,” Emory University professor Carol Anderson said of the new legislation, despite none of the bills having nothing to do with anyone’s race. And surely it is more prejudiced to assume that one demographic of people is less than or incapable of engaging in fair elections? (LEARN MORE: How To Protect Your Local Elections Today)

Everyone who wants to legally exercise their right to vote in Georgia can do so. And now these residents have even more protection for the integrity of their election process. In 2020, Georgia’s elections were “an unmitigated disaster,” according to the Western Journal, and these new laws aim to curb this past crisis.

Contact Your Elected Officials About Election Integrity

Did you know that you, your family, and friends can send letters directly to your elected officials today? We can tell your leaders what you want from their time in office, and what you expect from our federal government. Letter-writing campaigns, or even just a single letter, can be enough to sway policy and prompt investigations.

Sign up for millionvoices.org today (text MV to 80550) and share this article with your friends and family so they can stay informed and become citizen lobbyists in the pursuit of faith and freedom across our great nation.