Georgia Bans Giving Water to Voters in Line

Deja Tyla Hansen

News

30th March 2021

Georgia Bans Giving Water to Voters in Line

The bill included numerous new voting guidelines (Getty Images).

The Claim

Georgia passed a law that bans giving food and water to people who are waiting in line to vote.

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Emerging story

Last week, Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp signed a new bill that enacted broad and controversial voting restrictions. One element that quickly rose to headlines was that the new law would ban passing out water and food to citizens who were waiting in line to vote.

News articles quickly surfaced discussing the law and its restrictions. According to Georgia Public Broadcasting, the law comes with changes that impact many domains of voting such as absentee voting, in-person voting, and the State Election Board.

Social media erupted in conversation regarding rumors about this claim.

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Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar’s investigation revealed this claim to be true. Georgia’s new law states the following: “No person shall solicit votes in any manner or by any means or method, nor shall any person distribute or display any campaign material, 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.”

Many activist groups believe this law was made to target minority voters. In response, Rev. Tim McDonald told CNN, “We will make a movement… You know something is wrong when you can’t give grandma a bottle of water and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

According to The Orlando Sentinel, Florida plans to pass a similar bill. The bill aims to ensure voters can only be solicited when standing more than 150 feet away from the site. It will also add a new section that prevents the act of “giving or attempting to give any item.”