Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff Wants Voters To Have Access To Water

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff launched a invoice prohibiting states from banning volunteers from distributing meals and water to voters in line to vote.

Ossoff’s invoice is a response to the voting restrictions invoice that has been signed into regulation by Gov. Brian Kemp, which makes it unlawful for volunteers and organizations to offer out refreshments inside 150 ft of the outer fringe of a polling location and inside 25 ft of a voting line.

Final yr volunteers gave out meals and water at polling areas throughout the U.S. Through the presidential election when Georgia residents stood in line for hours ready to vote. The invoice Kemp signed into regulation does enable ballot staff to arrange self-service water receptacles.

Underneath Ossoff’s invoice, volunteers are in a position to move out meals and water so long as they provide it to each voter in line and chorus from political exercise or discussions whereas they volunteer.

Ossoff mentioned his invoice may very well be tied into the H.R. 1, For the Folks Act of 2023, the sweeping election invoice that has handed the Home however is anticipated to face a tricky struggle from Republicans together with Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell.

Georgia is well-known for altering voting legal guidelines to make sure Republicans succeed within the state. Polling areas in Black neighborhoods and Democratic strongholds are restricted, which leaves residents ready in line for hours to vote.

“That is about decency — fundamental decency,” Ossoff mentioned in line with the Atlanta Journal-Structure That is concerning the well being and well-being of a senior citizen who’s being made to attend six hours in line to vote and permitting a volunteer handy that senior citizen a bottle of water with out going through as much as a yr in jail.”

Since Georgia handed its voting invoice, Arkansas, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, and different states have handed voting restriction payments tightening ID necessities, adjustments necessities for absentee and mail-in voting and cuts using drop packing containers.