January 12, 2021 9:31 AM
Morning Reads for Tuesday, January 12
Good morning! Today is the second day of the 2021 Legislative Session.
- …and the upcoming session probably won’t be boring, what with the pandemic and elections and the budget (oh my!).
- More on the inevitable debate about access to absentee voting.
- Governor Kemp in his own words on the 2020 elections, the 2021 runoffs, and looking ahead to the 2022 primaries.
- Some parts of the state don’t have enough of the COVID 19 vaccine to meet demand, others don’t have enough demand, largely due to vaccine hesitancy. Here’s a good overview of Georgia’s vaccine situation.
- Meanwhile, it was difficult for many Georgians age 75+ to make an appointment to receive their first dose of the vaccine as many public health department websites were overwhelmed.
- Public health website problems weren’t limited to metro Atlanta. Middle Georgians hoping to make their appointment also experienced delays, frustration, and dismay.
- Coastal public health officials also experienced overwhelming interest in the vaccine yesterday.
- Fingers crossed that this heavy volume of seniors wanting the vaccine bodes well for our state overcoming vaccine hesitancy!
- Legislative leaders from middle Georgia on the 2021 Session.
- One Augusta man decided to keep his elaborate holiday light display up indefinitely to bring some joy to the dark months ahead.
About Author
Teri
Teri Anulewicz is a Democrat who represents House District 42 in the Georgia General Assembly. She previously spent nearly a decade on the Smyrna City Council. A native New Orleanian and quasi-Texan, Teri graduated from Agnes Scott College in 1998. She's been a front page contributor since 2015, and she compiles each Tuesday's Morning Reads.
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An addendum to the AJC interview with the Guv:
Forsyth billboard labels Kemp/Raffensperger “Treasonist Rinos”
https://www.cbs46.com/news/forsyth-billboard-labels-kemp-raffensperger-treasonist-rinos/article_68554c10-5463-11eb-adaa-c39e8637fb81.html
On the issue of no-excuse absentee voting, the SoS stated its support for elimination of it, citing its labor requirements. However, there has been no issue about labor since 2005, and the single biggest reason why it was so popular this pas t year is obvious. After the pandemic, one would expect many to return to in-person voting, therein decreasing labor needs. Frankly, as a voter, I found the absentee voting process also labor-intensive, and did not prefer it to in-person voting. Some may still prefer it, though, and they are likely to be the ones who always favored it- the elderly and disabled who may face transportation or health issues. But if it was working fine since 2005, there is literally no evidence to support its removal, and any attempt to remove looks like raw partisan attempts to disenfranchise. Adding a photo ID requirement may seem like a middle ground, but there would be a need to make reasonable accommodations for the elderly and disabled. That may mean that if someone can’t scan/copy their ID, that there should be a call-in or other online verification system.
What puzzles me is after several recounts and a sample audit of signatures with no real problems found is how the Republicans are even justifying this.
I wonder if they also will order a different brand of voting machines since Dominion disappointed them so badly and gave the election to the Democrats.
As someone on here said yesterday about an impeachment, “Why are they wasting so much money?”
I suspect there will be no formal legislative findings used for justifications. I wonder if there will even be evidence from the recounts that are allowed to be heard in committee.
Yes, the photo ID is problematic for absentee ballot requests/voting. Works great to verify the person standing there to vote matches the voter list. Absentee verification, not so much. Forcing a specific need to create a copy of your photo ID is a clear obstacle for voting. I definitely agree with you. I have a quick system to print, sign, scan and email my absentee ballot requests, which worked better than the online formula me this year. But others may not have access to a home scanner, internet etc.
I can easily get to a county election office to drop my hand filled (not bar coded ballot that could be rigged LOL) ballot. So I will continue with that method.
Oh, and why do we need another, third party controlled website to use to track our absentee ballot??? Especially one that requires you to allow your information to be shared and used for direct marketing?..The SOS myvoterpage works just fine.
“The acting U.S. attorney for Northern Georgia, who was named after his predecessor reportedly angered President Trump for not finding election fraud, told staffers in a conference call Monday that he dismissed two election fraud cases on his first day.”
https://www.ajc.com/news/trumps-pick-for-us-attorney-in-georgia-dismisses-election-fraud-claims-theres-just-nothing-to-them/7JMIL37WANHWXCZD4FTJXH4CIQ/