A federal judge on Friday narrowed a section of Georgia election law that banned the practice of handing out food and water to voters waiting in line to cast ballots, as well as halted enforcement of a requirement that voters put their birth dates on the outer envelope of their ballots.
His ruling on so-called line-warming allowed the ban to still be enforced in what he dubbed the “buffer zone” around a polling place, within 150 feet of the building where ballots are being cast. But he paused enforcement of the ban in the “supplemental zone,” or additional areas that are within 25 feet of a voter standing in line.
If I understand it, should allow relief to a really long line. Stupid that money is free speech but passing out sandwiches sometimes isn’t. Step in the right direction I guess?
Now they will just make the voting line snake around the building within the 150 ft 🙄
The problem is that campaigns will use snacks and water to campaign as close to polling places as possible. That’s what the law is trying to prevent, so that there aren’t 15 10’X10’ tents with names emblazoned on top just to garner more votes.
How you solve for that is: No branding or signage beyond “Free Water” or “Free Refreshments” and workers are not allowed to speak to anyone. Just place things on a table. Campaigns can setup tents, refreshments outside of a new buffer, 300 ft. Or, OR, just ban campaigns from setting up tents. If it’s found, they forfeit the election.
But, we all know that legislatures aren’t about making common sense laws.
Update: I appreciate all of the responses. I’ve read up more on this law, and ya’ll are right. The way it’s written, and how it’s communicated are different. I’m leaving my original comment up for clarity. Discourse is good and I appreciate the softer approaches along with some of the more angry of you.
I was gonna try to explain it, but @lolcatnip said it more succinctly than I would. I’ll just chime in to say that this is disingenuous:
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement that the decision “should have limited effect.”
“Due to the good work that both the state and county election officials have done to ensure short lines for voters, this decision should have limited effect,” he said. “I am grateful that the ban on giving things of value to voters remains in place within 150 feet of the polling place. All voters should have the right to cast their vote in peace without being subject to potentially unwanted solicitations.”
As if anyone standing in line hasn’t already made up their mind. “Oh, a bottle of water when I’ve been in line for an hour? Guess I’ll vote for your guy because I’m a thoughtless idiot.”
