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u.s. news Diamars 20 aPriL 2021

GOP targets ballot drop boxes in Georgia, Florida, elsewhere

(AP) — Atlanta-area vot- to offer drop boxes. Their
ers looking to return their goal is one for every 20,000
ballots using a drop box in registered voters in most
next year’s gubernatorial counties by the 2022 mid-
election will have to do term elections. For counties
some searching. with fewer than 20,000 reg-
istered voters, a minimum
Just eight boxes will be spread of one drop box would be
across Fulton County’s near- required.
ly 529 square miles — or In Georgia, drop boxes were
about one for every 100,000 permitted last year under an
registered voters. That’s emergency rule prompted by
down from the 38 drop boxes the coronavirus pandemic.
that were available to voters State Republicans have de-
last fall. It’s the result of a fended the new law as mak-
broad new law pushed by ing drop boxes a permanent
Georgia Republicans in re- option for voters and requir-
sponse to former President ing all counties to have at
Donald Trump’s false claims least one. But critics say the
of a stolen election. new limits mean there will
Georgia is one of several be fewer drop boxes available
states controlled politically in the state’s most populous
by Republicans that are seek- communities.
ing additional restrictions on “There weren’t any issues
voting, citing security con- with the drop boxes, and
cerns. A favorite target is bal- that’s the point,” said Georgia
lot drop boxes, which have Sen. Jen Jordan, a Democrat
been used for years in states whose district includes parts
with expansive mail voting of Fulton County. “It’s defi-
and which millions of vot- nitely going to impact voters
ers used last year as a way to and their ability to access the
avoid polling places during ballot and cast their vote.”
the pandemic. In fast-growing Cobb Coun-
Democrats say the boxes ty north of Atlanta, officials
are more secure than regu- had 16 drop boxes available
lar mailboxes, and their use in November but will be
was largely trouble-free last permitted about five under
fall. Even Georgia Gov. Bri- the new law. Janine Eveler,
an Kemp, a Republican who the county’s elections direc-
signed the restrictive bill into tor, said 60% of all returned
law, posted a video on his Institute. “It’s a false choice.” according to Florida Supervi- tion, when early voting is no absentee ballots last fall came
Twitter account that showed Drop boxes have been used sors of Elections, a statewide longer available and voters through a drop box.
him using a drop box to cast for years in states such as Col- group of local election offi- are worried about relying on For the entire metro Atlanta
his ballot last year, flashing a orado, Oregon and Washing- cials. Even so, a bill pending the U.S. Postal Service to de- area, Democrats estimate
thumbs up sign afterward. ton, where ballots are mailed in the Florida Senate would liver their ballots on time. the number of drop boxes
“They loved ballot drop to all registered voters ahead limit their use to hours when Republican lawmakers in will fall from 94 last year to
boxes until Trump and the of every election. in-person early voting is of- other states, including Mich- no more than 23 for future
Republicans started losing,” Placement can vary widely. In fered. An earlier version igan and Wisconsin, also have elections based on the new
said state Rep. Erica Thomas, some places, they’re located would have eliminated them proposed new limits, though formula of one drop box per
a Democrat from metro At- inside public buildings, avail- entirely, but that was revised the chances of many of them 100,000 registered voters.
lanta. able only during office hours. after election supervisors op- becoming law are slim be- Republican Sen. Brian Strick-
For election officials and vot- Elsewhere, they are outside posed it. cause Democrats control the land, whose district sits south
ers across the country, drop and accessible at any hour, The bill’s sponsor, Republi- governor’s offices. of Atlanta, said lawmakers
boxes seemed like an ideal typically with video surveil- can Sen. Dennis Baxley, ac- As part of a broad GOP-led were focused on making sure
solution to two major prob- lance or someone monitoring knowledged during a legisla- election overhaul in Iowa this drop boxes were written into
lems in 2020: a coronavirus in-person. tive hearing that he was not year, lawmakers approved the law, available for future
pandemic that raised fears “I’m just so glad we had aware of any problems with legislation to limit drop boxes elections with strong security
about crowded polling places that option,” said Cynthia drop boxes in Florida last in future elections to just one measures in place.
and reports of mail delays Vaughn, a retired financial year. Nevertheless, he said per county. Previously, state “If the provision we have is
that threatened on-time de- manager from Atlanta who they introduced security gaps law did not say how many not workable — this is the
livery of ballots. used a drop box at her lo- into the state’s mail voting drop boxes counties could first time we have tried this
The boxes were targeted a cal library in November and process that must be closed. operate. Lawmakers in Tex- — I’m sure you will see us go
few times by vandals, but few again for the state’s January “I don’t think we should sit as, where the GOP is in full back and amend that to allow
other problems were report- Senate runoff. on our laurels or congratu- control, also are debating additional drop boxes if more
ed across the country. Even She said slashing access to late ourselves on a successful how voters can return ballots. are needed,” he said.
so, Republicans say they want them will be especially hard election,” Baxley said. “Our Election experts say outdoor
to ensure the boxes will be a on those who don’t have time is better spent learning drop boxes are arguably more
secure way to cast a ballot. ready access to a vehicle or lessons from problems in secure than a regular U.S.
“It’s a continued narrative public transit: “Driving extra other states to make sure we Postal Service mailbox sit-
where you try to pit secu- miles to get somewhere to are prepared for 2022 and be- ting on a sidewalk, especially
rity against accessibility, and drop off a ballot doesn’t ad- yond.” when video surveillance is
you have to choose one or here to the whole point that No state reported any sig- used. They are typically large,
the other,” said Hillary Hall, it should be easy and accom- nificant problems with drop heavy and anchored to the
a former county elections modating for everyone to boxes last year. ground.
clerk in Colorado who now vote.” Democrats complained the Democrats in Congress, as
works with election officials They were so popular in bill would preclude voters part of their proposal to es-
across the country through Florida last year that nearly from dropping off ballots in tablish national election stan-
the National Vote at Home 1.5 million voters used them, the days just before an elec- dards, want to require states