2022 Georgia Secretary of State Voters Guide
Bee Nguyen (D) vs Brad Raffensperger (R)
The Candidates
Expand. To maintain accurate voter rolls, would communicate with voters by mail, text, and email, rather than using only mail. Would “promote language access” and “develop kiosks to securely submit vote-by-mail applications.” “Georgians deserve a Secretary of State who will fight for their freedom to vote regardless of their party, zip code, or the color of their skin.”
Limit. Supported a law imposing limits on absentee voting, ballot drop boxes, out-of-precinct voting, and distributing food or water at the polls, while adding some early voting opportunities. The new law reduced absentee ballot drop box access in four Metro Atlanta counties by more than 75 percent from 2020 pandemic levels.
Believes current redistricting is partisan. “We’re not seeing…equitable representation across the board.” In Georgia, “we have gained a million people over the last 10 years, and all of them are people of color, and we are not seeing that reflected in our maps.”
Likely no. “Georgia’s maps are fair and adhere to traditional principles of redistricting.”
Suppression. “There’s no evidence of voter fraud.” But “Republicans have done everything in their power to silence the votes of voters who chose an America that works for all of us, not just some of us.”
Neither. “The cries of ‘voter suppression’ from those on the left ring hollow.” But called claims of fraud in the 2020 election “total disinformation, misinformation, and outright lying.”
No. Has criticized voter ID laws as “disproportionately” affecting “Black and Brown voters.”
Yes. “Accurate voter lists are fundamental to election integrity.” In 2021 “instructed county election officials to mail no-contact notices to 185,666 people,” to be “classified as ‘inactive’ if they do not respond within 30 days.” People who remain inactive eventually have their registration canceled.
Unclear. Says the match provision is “actually a federally required process mandated by the Help America Vote Act.” Was a defendant as Secretary of State in a lawsuit asserting restrictive voting practices in Georgia, including “exact match.” Raffensperger said the suit’s claims were “not supported by facts and evidence.” The judge sided with Raffensperger.
Likely. “Georgia Republicans are fast tracking an omnibus bill that cripples already overburdened local election boards by restricting funds + by adding more burdensome requirements — many predicated by the Big Lie. This isn’t ‘election integrity’ & should not be treated as such.” Criticizes a 2021 law as having a “dangerous” provision that allows “the state to take over local election boards that are supposed to be bipartisan in nature.”
No. Supported a provision of the 2012 Georgia Election Integrity law that allows the state to temporarily take over local election boards. “We need something that’s designed to help counties whose election boards have repeatedly failed them. But I think everyone needs to understand that local election boards, the state election board, can’t overturn election results whenever they want. They’re going to tabulate the ballots, just like they always have.”
Yes. Would make cybersecurity part of the central function of the Secretary of State’s office. “What I envision is hiring top-notch security experts.” Regarding the 2022 Coffee County elections office breach, said: “I am deeply concerned that bad actors were given access to confidential election data and what that means for Georgia’s election security.”
No. In 2020 ran an audit of voting machines “to confirm no hack or tamper.” “Georgia voters can be confident that their vote is safe and secure.” After the 2022 Coffee County elections office breach, said “To allay the fears being stoked by perennial election deniers and conspiracy theorists, we’re replacing Coffee County’s election machines.”
Yes. “I would advocate to moving towards a hand-marked paper ballot system with an auditable trail where voters are able to discern who they are voting for.” Voted against Georgia’s touchscreen system.
Partly. In 2019 implemented a statewide system of voting machines that print out paper ballots based on touchscreen input. Has maintained that Georgia elections remain secure. Has had no public response to computer security experts questioning the security of the touchscreen machines.
Yes. Cosponsored a bill to restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentence.
Unclear. In 2018 said would restore felons’ rights after probation and parole, but not for violent crimes like rape or armed robbery. In 2019 a spokesperson said state Supreme Court had agreed that all felons be prohibited from voting.
Yes. Georgia’s law limiting counting of out-of-precinct ballots is “voter suppression.” The law “will affect tens of thousands of voters who have, over the years, had to vote provisionally because they were at the wrong precinct, because either their precinct changed or their precinct was consolidated.”
Only very late voters. Supported a provision that limits counting of out-of-precinct ballots to votes cast after 5 p.m., election day. Said “out-of-precinct voting is a cumbersome process that takes time. It delays results.”
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