Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #HB531
Most recents (16)
We all need to be paying attention to Mississippi right now. Last week #MSHouseofRep overwhelmingly passed (w/o any debate!) an outrageously irresponsible bill that'll kill the state budget by >$1.5B, raise taxes on the poorest residents and create a windfall for the richest 1/8
The House/@PhilipGunnMS’s main argument is that MS can afford it due to the budget surplus. But MS is 100% offsetting the costs of the cuts in the first 2 years w/ the surplus. What happens in the out-years? The surplus is due to federal aid which is TEMPORARY 
@PhilipGunnMS As ID Rep @IlanaRubel eloquently said: “I get frustrated by the use of the word [surplus]... If you haven’t paid your mortgage and haven’t paid your bills, it might look like you have a lot of money in the checking account. But it’s false to characterize it as a surplus"
THREAD: Today, 3 days after Barry Fleming dropped a surprise substitute to #SB202, a 94-page mess and the worst anti-voting bill in Georgia, it’s STILL not available online. See for yourself ⬇️ - this is disgraceful and unacceptable. #gapol
legis.ga.gov/legislation/59…
legis.ga.gov/legislation/59…
ICYMI: 5 major Georgia companies have NOT outright condemned voter suppression bills #HB531 and #SB241, despite growing pressure from community activists. Take a look at who these companies are and what their statements say🧵⤵️
.@aflac released a statement calling for “secure voting while preserving election integrity”—language that parrots the baseless voter fraud claims made by Trump and Republicans. Make no mistake: these bills do not stop fraud—they stop young people and people of color from voting.
.@CocaCola has long highlighted its activism in the Civil Rights Movement and its backing of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Yet, they've failed to condemn voter suppression legislation that poses a direct affront to the very issues they claim to care about.
HAPPENING NOW: Georgia House Republicans led by Rep. Barry Fleming are rushing out a 93-page substitute to SB 202 right before a key committee meeting to try and ram through their anti-voting agenda as part of their unconstitutional attacks on Georgians’ voting rights. #gapol
The substitute not only includes a false and misleading preamble promoting the Big Lie and conspiracy theories, but also mirrors their similarly disastrous assaults on the right to vote, #HB531 and #SB241 - with whole sections copied and pasted into the SB 202 substitute. #gapol
The new bill would lead to longer lines, restrict vote by mail, and more. It also grants the state legislature unprecedented power over elections and the State Election Board while stripping voters of representation. #gapol
1/ GA's @GovKemp often says that in GA it is "easy to vote but hard to cheat." Sadly #HB531, upends that claim--making it hard to vote and EASY to cheat.
Everyone understands the "hard to vote" part. But ironically, the bill makes it "easy to cheat."
Everyone understands the "hard to vote" part. But ironically, the bill makes it "easy to cheat."
2/ In the 2 min of testimony permitted today in Sen. Ethics Comm. hearing, I could only state that when bills drop signature verification (best authentication) to use DL#s instead, fraud will follow.
This testimony was cut short: bit.ly/MRM3_16testimo…
This testimony was cut short: bit.ly/MRM3_16testimo…
3/ I'll explain a couple of examples.
It's not unusual for signature verification process to catch parents of college or adult children no longer at home, obtaining kids' ballots and voting them. They get rejected.
If DL# used instead of signature, illegal ballots are accepted
It's not unusual for signature verification process to catch parents of college or adult children no longer at home, obtaining kids' ballots and voting them. They get rejected.
If DL# used instead of signature, illegal ballots are accepted
Sen. Ethics Comm. to hear flawed #HB531 today.
Here's what I plan to say in testimony.
🗣️ bit.ly/MRM3_16testimo…
There have been many strong clear voices on the voter suppression topic, so I plan to address the degrading of mail ballot security they are about to enact. 1/
Here's what I plan to say in testimony.
🗣️ bit.ly/MRM3_16testimo…
There have been many strong clear voices on the voter suppression topic, so I plan to address the degrading of mail ballot security they are about to enact. 1/
2/ GOP lawmakers are merely blindly following @GaSecofState's request on this legislation so that he can control mail ballot applications in his portal, rather than have applications go to counties. Portal won't take signatures, --his answer is to degrade the security.
3/ Maybe GOP lawmakers should have learned a lesson when SOS insisted on the flawed and pricey Dominion BMD system with lax security.
If you know a GA Republican who is concerned about mail ballot security, please forward this thread and ask them to ask their lawmakers to stop!
If you know a GA Republican who is concerned about mail ballot security, please forward this thread and ask them to ask their lawmakers to stop!
🧵(1/4): Following a cycle of unprecedented voter turnout and mobilization, Georgia’s leaders are trying to pass laws that would suppress the voices of Black voters, voters of color, and young voters.
Here’s an update about what's happening in Georgia's statehouse. ⬇️
Here’s an update about what's happening in Georgia's statehouse. ⬇️
🧵(2/4): Recently, Georgia voters used the power of their voices and blocked the passage of 45(!) voter suppression bills.
However, the two most restrictive bills #HB531 and #SB241 are waiting to pass the Senate and House, respectively.
nbcnews.com/politics/elect…
However, the two most restrictive bills #HB531 and #SB241 are waiting to pass the Senate and House, respectively.
nbcnews.com/politics/elect…
🧵(3/4): #HB531 would cut weekend voting days and Souls to the Polls and add restrictive absentee voting restrictions.
If passed, #SB241 would repeal no-excuse absentee voting—which 1.3 MILLION(!) voters used to vote in the November general election.
cnn.com/2021/03/06/pol…
If passed, #SB241 would repeal no-excuse absentee voting—which 1.3 MILLION(!) voters used to vote in the November general election.
cnn.com/2021/03/06/pol…
THREAD: As the nation remembers #BloodySunday and the violent scenes on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Republicans in state legislatures are fighting to resurrect the dark history of Jim Crow, and Georgia is on the front lines of GOP voter suppression. #gapol brennancenter.org/our-work/resea…
From attempts to criminalize those handing out food and water to voters waiting in long lines, to efforts dismantle the Black church tradition of Souls to the Polls, these bills, like those in the era of Bloody Sunday, are targeting Black and brown voters. nytimes.com/2021/03/06/us/…
Advocates, voters, and faith leaders are speaking out against bills like #HB531 and #SB241 that prolong an age-old legacy of racist voter suppression. On the anniversary Bloody Sunday, the urgency of passing #HR1 and #HR4 cannot be overstated. ajc.com/opinion/opinio…
Georgia's GOP-controlled House just passed #HB531 by a 97-72 vote. Among other voting restrictions, HB531 would limit location & hours of drop boxes, reduce early weekend voting, prohibits giving food/drink to voters waiting in line.
Bill goes to State Senate now.
Bill goes to State Senate now.
For those asking about part about giving food/drink to voters in line:
"nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector"
HB531: legis.ga.gov/api/legislatio…
"nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector"
HB531: legis.ga.gov/api/legislatio…
This is an excellent explainer on the Omnibus voting bills in the Georgia House and Senate—
THREAD: Today, Georgia House Republicans took yet another step to send voting rights in Georgia back to the days of Jim Crow and forced through #HB531, moving forward on one of the strictest and most anti-democratic pieces of voter suppression legislation in the country. #gapol
Breaking: Georgia’s GOP-controlled House passes new voter suppression bill #HB531 cutting weekend voting, restricting mail ballot drop boxes, adding voter ID for mail ballots, giving voters less time to return ballots & dramatically limiting runoff time after Dems won in Nov/Jan
"Georgia is ground zero for the GOP’s escalating war on voting, targeting the voting methods that were used most by Democratic voters in 2020 and which contributed to flipping the state blue and electing two Democratic senators" motherjones.com/politics/2021/…
Dems have a clear choice: they can get rid of filibuster to pass John Lewis Voting Rights Act & For the People Act to stop GOP voter suppression
Or they can allow GOP to undermine democracy for next decade
The stakes couldn’t be higher
Or they can allow GOP to undermine democracy for next decade
The stakes couldn’t be higher
THREAD: Georgia now has TWO of the worst voter suppression bills in the nation moving quickly through our legislature: #SB421 and #HB531. #SB241 would end no-excuse mail voting, implement new ID requirements, and add witness requirements for mail voters. #gapol
Today #HB531 passed out of committee- it would restrict dropbox access, add new ID requirements for mail voting, force counties to choose between offering some Saturday OR Sunday voting, and more. The GOP-led GA legislature is unrelenting in their attacks on voting rights. #gapol
Not only are these ID and witness restrictions suppressive and unnecessary, they are outwardly discriminatory, and would have a disparate impact on Black and other minority voters across our state, as well as older voters and voters in single-person households. #gapol
THREAD: Because of citizen engagement, advocates have forced lawmakers to postpone a vote on #HB531 three times since it was introduced by Rep. Barry Fleming. Now, we must keep up the pressure. Here are three actions we need you to take right now:
#gapol (1/5)
#gapol (1/5)
1. Call Your County Elections Officials
HB 531 contains provisions that an independent analysis by Voting Rights Lab found that HB 531 could incur over $50 million in total new costs to counties statewide. Find your county elections office:
elections.sos.ga.gov/Elections/coun…
#gapol (2/5)
HB 531 contains provisions that an independent analysis by Voting Rights Lab found that HB 531 could incur over $50 million in total new costs to counties statewide. Find your county elections office:
elections.sos.ga.gov/Elections/coun…
#gapol (2/5)
2. Call the following State Representatives and demand that they oppose HB 531:
Barry Fleming: 404-656-5105
Alan Powell: 404-463-3793
Jan Jones: 404-656-5072
Chuck Martin: 404-656-5146
Lynn Smith: 404-656-7149
Bonnie Rich: 404-656-5087
Houston Gaines: 404-656-0298
#gapol
(3/5)
Barry Fleming: 404-656-5105
Alan Powell: 404-463-3793
Jan Jones: 404-656-5072
Chuck Martin: 404-656-5146
Lynn Smith: 404-656-7149
Bonnie Rich: 404-656-5087
Houston Gaines: 404-656-0298
#gapol
(3/5)
THREAD: #HB531 is a dangerous attempt to roll back voting rights, and would have devastating consequences for GA voters. Read Fair Fight Action's written testimony against HB 531, submitted to the House Special Committee on Election Integrity: ➡️ StopHB531.com #gapol
THREAD: Following multiple defeats in the 2020 election, Georgia Republicans are returning to their voter suppression tactics to hold onto waning power. #HB531, presented by voter suppressor Rep. Barry Fleming, includes several rollbacks on voting rights. ⬇️ 1/ #gapol
#HB531 could:
❌Eliminate Sunday Voting
❌Slash 108 Total Available Hrs of Early Vote
❌Remove 1 of 2 Saturday Vote Options
❌Force Counties To Raise Taxes To Pay For Elections
❌Slash Time Counties Can Mail Ballots
❌Prohibit Early Voting on Holidays
2/ #gapol
❌Eliminate Sunday Voting
❌Slash 108 Total Available Hrs of Early Vote
❌Remove 1 of 2 Saturday Vote Options
❌Force Counties To Raise Taxes To Pay For Elections
❌Slash Time Counties Can Mail Ballots
❌Prohibit Early Voting on Holidays
2/ #gapol
Slash Mail Ballot Application Window By 113 Days
Require Photocopy of ID for VBM App If No Driver's License
Set Restrictive Ballot Return Deadline of 11 Days Before Election
3/ #gapol
Require Photocopy of ID for VBM App If No Driver's License
Set Restrictive Ballot Return Deadline of 11 Days Before Election
3/ #gapol
THREAD: What does voter suppression look like? Here's what Georgia Republicans stuffed inside ONE of the nearly 50 anti-voting bills filed post runoff. #HB531 will:
Eliminate Sunday Voting, Slash 108 Total Available Hrs of Early Vote, Remove 1 of 2 Sat Vote Options, #gapol 1/8
Eliminate Sunday Voting, Slash 108 Total Available Hrs of Early Vote, Remove 1 of 2 Sat Vote Options, #gapol 1/8
Prohibit Early Voting on Holidays, Force Counties To Raise Taxes To Pay For Elections, Slashes VBM Application Window By 113 Days, Slash Time Counties Can Mail Ballots From 49 to 29 Days, Require Photocopy of ID for VBM App If No Driver's License, 2/8
Set Restrictive Ballot Return Deadline of 11 Days Before Election, Allow Counties To Set Arbitrary Time For Ballot Return On New Fri Deadline, Require Counties To Pay For 24/7 In-Person Drop Box Security Official, Limits Drop Boxes To Only In EV Locations Only During Voting 3/8
