Republicans restrict Georgian electoral law: ‘this is blatant racism’

Just months after Democrats won the presidential election in the United States, Republicans are trying to make sweeping changes to election laws. A selection of the new measures: postal voting and the right to vote earlier in the weekend will be limited and the number of ballot boxes will be reduced. All the proposals have one thing in common: they mainly concern the black voter.

“Shamelessly racist,” Iconium Baptist Church pastor Timothy McDonald calls the new election laws. His church is in Atlanta, the state capital of Georgia, which surprisingly went to Democrats in November. Here too, the Republicans are trying to adjust the electoral laws.

The pastor organizes events under the motto on Sundays before the elections Souls in the polls, with all participants going to the polls together after the service. Thanks to this event, he regularly reaches 100% participation among his followers. If Americans were no longer allowed to vote on Sundays, it would be Souls in the polls also no longer able to continue.

Not seen since the 1950s

But not being able to vote on Sunday isn’t the only measure that makes it harder for black voters to vote, McDonald says. “To vote by mail, they want to require ID, which many African Americans don’t have and for which you have to pay. Plus, they want to reduce the number of ballot boxes in black neighborhoods. . And they know it, and that is why they want to implement it. It is pure and blatantly racist discrimination. “

The new bills come after Trump’s persistent unfounded claims that he lost the election due to “widespread electoral fraud.” “This bill aims to restore the confidence of our constituents,” said Representative Barry Fleming, initiator of the bill in Georgia.

But according to McDonald, the law has nothing to do with rebuilding trust. “In the United States, particularly in the South, we have a history of voter suppression, especially African American voters. They are doing all they can to prevent such a rise again.”

Candies in a jar

McDonald’s dad took him to a polling station as a little boy to show him how difficult it was to vote. “Before my dad could vote he had to guess how many candies were in a jar. These are tests they only used on African Americans.

McDonald says Republicans are now trying to secure their power “by suppressing our vote.” “We are going to use our people and they will vote and we will win. We have to show that we can beat them in their own game, despite the obvious racism.”

Watch the report that correspondent Lucas Waagmeester wrote in Georgia here: