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Barry Dupree, who spent over four decades battling drug addiction and homelessness, has vivid memories of voting in the 2020 election, which was a significant milestone in his recovery journey. After getting sober and finding shelter at the Gateway Center in Fulton County, he felt like his voice was being heard and that he was part of society. Like him, thousands of homeless people across the U.S, particularly in Georgia, are eligible to vote if they have proper identification.
However, a new election bill in Georgia might make the process more complicated for homeless people. The legislation stipulates that all election-related correspondence for homeless individuals without a fixed address must be directed to the county registrar office. Although it is uncertain how these changes will affect homeless voters, it might necessitate additional visits to the government office to verify registration, learn about changes in polling locations, and to request or retrieve absentee ballots.
Voting rights groups and homeless activists argue that this requirement might place an unnecessary burden on homeless individuals. They highlight that extended travel times, confusion, and the lack of regular news and information could discourage already marginalized populations from participating in the electoral process.
The impact of the bill is potentially significant, given that Georgia’s 2020 presidential race was decided by fewer than 12,000 votes. An estimate by Fair Fight, a voting rights organization indicates that nearly 7,500 people had registered to vote using a homeless shelter address in the largest counties in the state, and more than 1,500 of them voted in recent elections.
Also, a 2012 study by the National Coalition for the Homeless showed that roughly 10% of registered homeless voters cast a ballot in that particular election. Even though the new bill primarily focuses on election administration, activists criticize it as unnecessary and baseless. Critics believe the bill, backed by Republican Senator Max Burns and currently awaiting Governor Brian Kemp’s approval, is influenced by unproved theories about Democrats committing rampant voter fraud.
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