Greg Palast, an investigative reporter renowned for his focus on vote suppression in Georgia, dives into the alarming changes in voting laws, particularly SB 202, which severely limits mail-in voting. He discusses the suppression tactics that disenfranchise urban and minority voters and highlights the troubling rise of citizen-led challenges to voter eligibility. The conversation touches on landmark Supreme Court rulings like Shelby County v. Holder that have compounded these issues, raising urgent concerns about democracy in America and the barriers faced during Georgia's recent runoff.
Voter suppression in Georgia drastically reduced mail-in ballots by 83%, disproportionately affecting black voters and marginalized communities.
The new law enabling unlimited voter challenges has created barriers that intimidate and disenfranchise many voters, further entrenching systemic inequalities.
Deep dives
Impact of Voter Suppression in Georgia
Voter suppression dramatically influenced the midterm elections in Georgia, evidenced by a staggering 83% decrease in mail-in ballots from the previous election cycle. New legislation restricted the placement of drop boxes primarily in urban areas, making it extremely difficult for black voters and others in dense populations to access them. With only 25 drop boxes for 107,000 voters in some black counties, and the elimination of outdoor drop boxes, many voters found themselves disenfranchised. This prohibition resulted in a loss of approximately one million ballots, highlighting how systemic changes to voting laws disproportionately target marginalized communities.
Voter Challenges and Their Consequences
Georgia's new voting law allows any citizen to challenge an unlimited number of voters, opening the door for widespread intimidation and discrimination. Instances were noted where individuals challenged thousands of voter registrations without any verification or personal knowledge of the voters being targeted. For example, a military veteran was prohibited from voting because his eligibility was questioned based solely on a social media post about his personal life. Such challenges create a burden on voters, forcing them to prove their residency and citizenship in inconvenient and often impossible circumstances, effectively categorizing them as guilty until proven innocent.
Broader Trends in Voter Rights Erosion
Since the 2013 Shelby decision dismantled crucial preclearance requirements from the Voting Rights Act, numerous states have enacted restrictive voting laws aimed at undermining the voting rights of minority populations. Forty-two restrictive laws passed across 21 states exemplify a coordinated effort to alter voting laws in ways that disadvantage voters of color, with the 2022 midterms serving as a stark reminder of such systemic inequalities. Corporate influence in politics further complicates the situation, as rulings like Citizens United have allowed corporations to exert control over electoral processes, diminishing the power of individual voters. Overall, these developments suggest a troubling trend where democratic rights are increasingly curtailed, particularly for marginalized communities.
Brian is joined by investigative reporter Greg Palast, who wrote the film “Vigilantes: Georgia’s Vote Suppression Hitmen,” available at gregpalast.com.
Please make an urgently-needed contribution to The Socialist Program by joining our Patreon community at patreon.com/thesocialistprogram. We rely on the generous support of our listeners to keep bringing you consistent, high-quality shows. All Patreon donors of $5 a month or more are invited to join the monthly Q&A seminar with Brian.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode