Judge declines to block ban on giving food, water to voters

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KATE BRUMBACK

ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has declined to block a section of a Georgia election law that bans handing out food and water to voters waiting in line.

The provision is part of a sweeping elections overhaul passed by Georgia lawmakers last year. Voting rights groups, who have filed a lawsuit challenging multiple parts of the law, argued that the provision infringes their free speech rights and should be immediately blocked while the case is pending.

The 74-page order, which was issued Thursday, means that the provision will remain in effect for the closely watched November general election. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is locked in a rematch with Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams, while Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock is trying to fend off a challenge from Republican Herschel Walker.

The state had argued that the provision was necessary to protect against conditions at polling places that could raise worries over potential illegal campaigning or vote buying. State lawyers also argued it was too close to the upcoming election to make changes.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-rights-georgia-stacey-abrams-general-c1c7c7103c4757c46f266afde514fd59

[barbtries]

1. fuckers.

i hate republicans.

[geardaddy]

15. +1 million

You said it!

[Novara]

2. cruelty IS the point

[Baggies]

3. I'd be afraid to take food or water from a stranger at a polling place

[FarPoint]

4. Hahahahahahahahahah

[Irish_Dem]

7. So would I. Magas would think nothing of harming Dem voters.

They could target women as well.

[NoMoreRepugs]

5. Appointed by the human ShitStain donnielittlehands - who would have guessed?

[wcmagumba]

6. Can voters in line bring their own water and snacks and share them? Just wondering...nt

[LeftInTX]

13. Yes...I think they can share them

[tavernier]

8. I can see his point.

People can bring their own food and drink with them and I’m not sure it’s a good idea to have a lot of people milling around voters waiting in line, particularly in this day and age when all sorts of nuts are out there and only there to cause distraction or trouble. A nice person handing out bottles of water is a kind and innocent enough thing, but you can be easily abused by people who just want to be there stirring up stuff. I think the judge probably feels that the less of a crowd gathering around the voters in line, the better.

[ificandream]

10. Same here.

As long as they don't prevent you from eating or drinking water in line, then there's really no problem. If they deny people the right to do that, that's a different story.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. What if a tub of water was simply just left outside the polling place, for anyone to simply just

walk by and grab? No one is giving the water away directly, it was simply found on the sidewalks, sitting there?

I think that this is ridiculous. If you think giving me water or food is going to influence my vote in any way, you're crazy.

[LeftInTX]

14. It's one of those "fine tooth combs"...I don't live in Georgia

However, I don't see why it isn't possible to set up a table with bottles of water near the polling sight.

Voters in line are a bit trickier....I have not read the law, but I volunteer with campaigns...

I try to avoid approaching voters standing in line. Some campaigns do, but I don't think it's ethical.

If there was someone in line here in Texas, who was struggling and a campaign worker ran up with a bottle of water in haste, no one would get in trouble.

However, if a campaign was handling out bottles of water to any or all voters in line, it certainly would raise eyebrows and it would draw attention of the election judge.

That said, we do seem to have more tents set up with campaigns handing out more "goodies" than they used too. It isn't the most ethical thing and if it gets be too much, it could draw attention of the GOP electeds in Austin.

However, what if there is a non-partisan group with water?

[frazzled]

17. In my state, it's not just unethical...

It’s illegal, at least within 100 feet of a polling place. I know other states have long-on-the-books laws about electioneering within certain distances of a polling place.

Perhaps this judge is thinking that allowing people to approach voters in line could lead to sub rosa electioneering ... like a whisper of “Enjoy the water. Vote for Judge Doodlehead.”

[tishaLA]

11. My solution to this is...

The NBA isn't having games on election day as a way of encouraging its fans to vote. About two dozen prominent players from all over the league should go to GA and make a big show of handing out water and snacks to people waiting in line, especially in predominantly African American locations.

Then see if the authorities want to make a spectacle out of arresting them.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

12. So maybe if voting was easier...be no need for food and water?! Insane waits are so

long voters in the worlds greatest democracy need basic human sustenance to crawl finally to the voting booth!??

Was that argued in the case, or entirely overlooked?

[3825-87867]

16. Using their phone to call and order water?

Set up a site to allow people to call to have a beveage delivered to them. Maybe a generous supporter would provide delivered water for, say 10 cents bottle to each who ordes one? Nice gesture and not illegal?

Maybe even a piece of pizza - straw hat - etc.

[riversedge]

18. porta potties also. IMHO

[Hekate]

19. How very Christian of them

[keopeli]

20. How about Lemonade? Is Lemonade on the banned list? What about Apple Juice?

[keopeli]

21. The article should include "appointed by Donald Trump" and worked for Jones Day...

the Georgia Law Firm that represented the former guy. Many of the firm's lawyers have received federal judgeships from TFG as a result. He withdrew as a candidate to the GA Supreme Court to accept the federal bench nomination. Hmmm... wants to be a future Supreme Court Cabal consideration me thinks!

As a partner at Jones Day, he specialized in WHITE COLLAR DEFENSE!

"As part of this latter duty, Boulee helped acquit a single mother accused of burning her child with a curling iron by explaining that the mother (who could not afford her heating bills) was using the iron under a blanket to help keep her son warm."

Notably, while at Jones Day, Boulee represented Wilbur Ross (now the Secretary of Commerce) in a class action and derivative shareholder lawsuit challenging the merger of the International Textile Group and Safety Components International. Boulee worked on case strategy and the development of defense expert testimony for the case, which ultimately settled on the eve of trial.

Boulee has been active with the Republican Party, maintaining membership in the Georgia Republican Party, the Republican National Lawyers Association, and other Republican groups until his ascension to the bench.

more at this link

[Lasher]

22. Why do they even have to wait in line?

I have never in my life had to wait more than 5 minutes to go in and vote. But when I get home I see all these people waiting in long lines. This is the root of the problem.

[mahina]

23. Do they have mail in voting?

I hope so. Can’t google at the moment

[GreenWave]

24. How is it that in Republican areas they do not have long lines?

Asking for the entire world.

[MissMillie]

25. I don't suppose the courts plan on doing anything about the long lines

Especially since the long lines all seem to be in neighborhoods full of people of color.

[Igel]

28. They're the ones you see.

I waited 45 minutes and then left last spring without voting. Some Latinos, but pretty much white. That was north of Houston, TX.

Brighton had long lines.

Sometimes it's how work schedules line up. Or the county or BOE misallocated voting machines. Or there was unexpected turnout. Or some broke.

[kimbutgar]

26. I wonder if they can leave out folding chairs for people to grab waiting in lines ?

I donate to a fund to loan out folding chairs. Or Loan your folding chairs for Election Day.

[LeftInTX]

27. My MIL used to have a folding cane

However lines are always moving at about 1 foot per minute

[DFW]

29. As long as voter suppression is getting this blatant

Instead of illegally “handing out food or water,” just PLACE food and water at makeshift tables where the lines are, with signs saying, “Intended for passing squirrels only. Not strictly enforced.”

[we can do it]

30. I guess hand out cups of ice.

[Aussie105]

31. A few drones flying overhead

Randomly dropping useful items, like bottled water, packets of biscuits?

But the whole 'you have to line up for hours if you want to vote in your part of town' thing is at the root of the problem.

[Marthe48]

32. Give those stalwart voters Commendation awards

They also serve who only stand and wait. And damn, if there are people willing to stand for hours without water and food to cast their vote, give them a medal.

[ga_girl]

33. As a Georgia poll worker

My understanding of the law is that outside parties can not provide food or water to voters waiting in line. Which, IMO, is silly. In 2020 there was a food truck providing burgers in the church parking lot - no political advertising on the truck. I don't know if the vendor was charging, but as a poll worker a burger was free.

But, my understanding is that precinct workers can provide water if they choose to. I wish I had a large Gatorade type water bucket to put out - I'll gladly pay for some paper cups. But since the election is in early November, I wouldn't expect the weather to be hot. Hopefully there will be guidance during training.

As to wait times, you have to understanding queuing theory. There are several potential bottlenecks for voters. There are only so many voter check-in systems. Then there are only so many vote stations, of which some are bottlenecked because the voter can't understand what they're looking at. Fun times when hourly counts are due and one voter is standing in front of a vote station for 10 minutes. Add in typical rush periods - 7 am opening, lunch, 5 pm work release, 7 pm last minute, it's like mice being eaten by a snake.

I know it's not popular, but requiring photo ID actually helps process voters quickly. A scan of the back of the drivers license happens quickly, and beats having to type in polysyllabic hyphenated names into the check-in system. There just have to be enough valid ID types easily obtained from issuing authorities.