ATL Standard

Early voting is now underway in Georgia for the upcoming midterm elections, with voters across the state heading to the polls under a new law passed by the Republican-led legislature following the party's defeat in the 2020 presidential election.

The 98-page bill now in effect across the state is also spliced with dozens of changes to state voting law, including shortening the time to request a mail ballot, rolling back the pandemic-driven expansion of ballot drop boxes, and reducing early voting before runoff elections; a recent report from FOX 5 Atlanta said.

Among the changes, the new law also makes it a misdemeanor crime to pass out food or drinks to any voter standing in line, while also limiting voters’ ability to cast a provisional ballot if they go to the wrong precinct and allowing any voter in the state to challenge the eligibility of an unlimited number of other voters within the same county.

State officials who stand in support of the water and refreshment ban argue that it is necessary in order to protect against such offenses as illegal campaigning or vote-buying, adding that it is also too close to the upcoming election to make changes, FOX 5 reports. 

While previously a form of identification was required for those voting in person but not for absentee voting, the new law likewise requires those requesting and returning ballots by mail to submit a driver’s license number, state ID number or a photocopy of another form of identification with their ballot.