ATLANTA — A bill introduced in the Georgia senate would shorten early voting in this November’s presidential election. The state has already done this once; voter activists are not happy that it could happen again.
In just seventeen days, early voting sites will get busy for the next three weeks for the Georgia presidential primary. This bill would eliminate some days early and late in the early voting calendar.
State Sen. Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville) remembers when elections seemed to work just fine with no early voting. He says early voting wastes time and tax dollars, especially in smaller counties.
Williams wants to change the law to reduce early voting by about one-third.
"It changes it from 21 days to 14 days. That’s still plenty of time for people to go vote," Williams told 11Alive Friday.
Williams says putting an end to early voting earlier will give election workers a chance to get a break before votes are cast and counted on election day.
In November, early voting is currently due to start Tuesday, October 15, and conclude Friday, November 1. This bill would eliminate the first two days and the last two days.
State officials "have been bragging about the turnout they’ve had," said Helen Butler of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, a voting rights group. "Well, they’ve had it because they had different options for people to vote."
Butler says more people vote early than they do on election day. And she said election workers like minimizing the crush of voters on election day.
Opponents say Williams bill will suppress votes, especially in urban areas where most early voters live.
"To me, early voting meets everyone’s need," Williams said.
Williams disputes that his bill would suppress votes.
"You look back to just a few years ago, you had no early voting," Williams said.