I can’t make this up. The state of Georgia passed a law this week, HB 531, that outlaws handing out pizza slices and water to voters waiting for hours to vote.
But Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger objected to the law because, he said, his office had already ruled that pizza at the polls is a crime. Before the Georgia US Senate run-offs, Raffensperger threatened groups that,
“offering food, drinks, or other items of value to voters waiting in line or those who have already voted is forbidden under Georgia law (OCGA § 21-2-570).”
Anyone handing pizza to a voter, according to Raffensperger, “shall be guilty of a felony.”
Full Article: [mailchi.mp]
I suppose handing out food/drinks to voters could be somehow perceived as a bribe... but that's really a bit of a stretch.
Seriously... you'd think politicians would have more pressing issues than this. But this is near the top of their priorities. It seems that conservatives and Republicans are only interested in helping themselves or finding ways to hurt others in any small way they can.
Puts real meaning into the term ''MEAN SPIRITED." So, the idea's to make people so uncomfortable that they'll go home and not vote. Real patriots, aren't they?
It goes back to the old free lunch laws, but it's really meant to punish black voters who have the fortitude to wait in intentionally long lines.
Republicans do not want anything that makes it easier for the people to vote.
In Britain it is hard to imagine having to wait in line to vote. Generally there are enough booths and stations provided, so that everyone can walk in and cast their vote with no wait. If we, and a lot of other countries, can manage that, how come the country which likes to think of itself as the worlds leading democracy can not. In the UK it would be regarded as showing a shameful lack of commitment to democracy if that situation arose.
@Fernapple You have to understand that Georgia has god on it's side and is governed by people wishing our country's former dictator was still in power....however on the opposite side of this continent, Washington, balloting is by mail, but there also is a 3 hour time difference and a mountain range to keep sanity at bay!