Georgia House Democrats whisper to Democratic Rep. Park Cannon (right) as Cannon was preparing to speak to reporters after lawmakers concluded a two-hour sit-in at the state Capitol sparked by opposition to Republican proposals that would restrict voting. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)
The New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter Fund and Rise Inc. filed a federal lawsuit Thursday challenging what they called a “grab bag of voting restrictions” aimed at disenfranchising minorities—the same day Gov. Brian Kemp signed the measures into law, with state Capitol police arresting a Black lawmaker opposed to the legislation knocking on the door.
“Over the past year, Georgia voters turned out in record-shattering numbers,” the complaint said. That turnout turned Georgia from Republican to Democrat in its choice of President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump, and tipped the balance of power in the U.S. Senate with the runoff election of Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock. Trump and supporters filed multiple lawsuits challenging the vote, all dismissed. Trump then pressed Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp to overturn the result, and criticized them when they refused.
Gov. Brian Kemp. (Photo: John Disney/ALM)
