Georgia lawmakers approved legislation Thursday that would give clearer guidelines for voter eligibility challenges, strengthen the security of paper ballots, and introduce new rules for qualifying for the state’s presidential ballot.
Senate Bill 189 is a result of an influx of voter challenges in the state following former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, which he claimed was the result of voter fraud. Republican lawmakers in swing states have been attempting to tighten voting restrictions going into the 2024 elections.
The bill clarifies “probable cause” in the event a voter wants to challenge their eligibility. “Probable cause” could be constituted if a voter has been registered in another jurisdiction, obtaining a homestead exemption in a different country, or giving a non-residential address such as a post office box, the Georgia Recorder
