Hundreds of American business leaders, organizations and millionaires have publicly spoken out about controversial electoral reforms in several states. “If American democracy is to work for each of us, we must ensure that each of us has the right to vote,” a two-page ad in the New York Times and The Washington Post on Wednesday said. In Georgia, Republicans promoted such controversial reform.
This means that in the future the number of ballot boxes for ballots and their opening hours will be less. In addition, identity checks for postal votes will be expanded. Republicans argue that the reform will make elections safer and more secure. Critics see this as discrimination against African-American voters in particular.
Politicians in dozens of other states have announced similar reforms. The Brennan Justice Center says MPs in 43 states have filed more than 250 bills that will make it difficult to vote. “We must all be responsible for protecting the right to vote and for opposing any discriminatory law or action that would prevent any eligible voter from having an equal and fair opportunity to vote,” the appeal said Wednesday. It was signed by investment bank Goldman Sachs, Facebook, Amazon, Twitter and Google parent company Alphabet and Michael Bloomberg and Warren Buffett.
The southern state of Georgia is one of the most competitive states in the 2020 US presidential election. Thanks to the high turnout, especially among African-American voters, President Joe Biden received a narrow victory over Republican Donald Trump. Biden’s rival has repeatedly spoken out about electoral fraud in Georgia and other states without evidence.
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