In a highly-unprecedented move, a coalition of civil rights and grassroots groups ramped up pressure on Georgia’s top corporations to get them to oppose voter suppression bills in the Georgia legislature. The group led by Black Voters Matter called on the leaders of AFLAC, Coca-Cola Co., Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, Southern Co., and […]
Category: Democracy
Fiscal bonanza hasn’t got Republicans singing ‘Happy Days Are Here Again’
How do you look a $4.7 billion gift horse in the mouth? Last week, as the buzz from crossover day at the legislature dissipated into a deep torpor, Georgia Republicans were contemplating that question, and they weren’t singing “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
Blockbuster voting bill winding its way through U.S. Congress
As Georgia grapples with its controversial election reform, a massive federal voting rights bill has cleared a key hurdle and, If passed, would usher in the most comprehensive changes in the U.S. electoral system in more than a half-century. The nearly 800-page H.R. 1 For the People Act of 2021 passed the U.S. House of […]
Georgia recognized for enhanced election security and innovation
By Tammy Joyner Georgia has been recognized by a federal election commission for its use of enhanced security measures and innovations during last year’s presidential election. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission cited the Georgia Secretary of State office’s use of line-monitoring technology to track wait times at polling places during early-voting and to address technical […]
New round starting in battle over Georgia election bills
There are a lot of overlapping bills.
Georgia probe, impeachment trial prove tough week for Trump
By Tammy Joyner Former President Donald Trump faces his second impeachment trial today with yet another investigation hanging over his head. Georgia’s Secretary of State announced Monday it was investigating Trump’s Jan. 6 call pressuring election officials to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election results. Officials launched the investigation after George Washington University law professor […]
Democracy under siege: States introducing raft of voter-suppression bills
America’s main path to Democracy is under siege. More than 100 voter-suppression bills have been introduced in 28 states – including Georgia – in the wake of record voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Voting Roundup 2021 study by Brennan Center for Justice. The 106 bills noted in the Brennan study […]
Atlanta media see big windfalls from campaign spending
By Tammy Joyner Atlanta media — notably TV stations — is estimated to have brought in more than $350 million from campaign spending during the presidential election and this year’s senate runoff races, making it one of the most profitable election cycles in recent memory. Definitive numbers on how much candidates and outside groups spent on campaign ads […]
Georgia lawmakers seek congressional term limits
Georgia lawmakers are calling for a national push to set term limits on Congress. Two resolutions – Senate Joint Resolution 28 and House Joint Resolution 39 – were introduced Tuesday calling for a national convention to propose term limits on House and Senate members. SR28 is sponsored by Sen. Bill Cowsert and HR39 is sponsored […]
Controversial election-related bills introduced
By Tammy Joyner State Republican lawmakers have introduced a group of election-related bills that, if passed, could make it more difficult for some to vote in Georgia. The eight senate bills seek to end automatic voter registration and ballot drop boxes, require photo IDs to get an absentee ballot application and an excuse to vote […]
Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore kicks off mayoral campaign
Crime is No. 1 on peoples’ minds, but Moore’s also thinking of budget, infrastructure and more.
What I’ve Learned: Andrea Young, ACLU of Georgia
By Tammy Joyner Georgians are settling into a different political landscape from a year ago. With the elections over, Atlanta Civic Circle is asking prominent Georgians to reflect on last year’s political machinations and provide insight on the state’s future. First up is civil rights activist and Georgia native Andrea Young, who is marking her fourth year […]
Election-year urban renewal plans could imprint Mayor Bottoms’ legacy on race, class
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ administration has proposed three election-year urban renewal initiatives that, if enacted, could imprint the mayor’s legacy on the city’s divisions around race and class for years to come.
Felicia Moore sets up run for Atlanta mayor
Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore has filed the legal paperwork to set up a run for mayor.
After a Contentious Year of Elections, Look to Local Races in 2021
Photo by Kelly Jordan Municipal races key to mapping growth in your city By Tammy Joyner The big-money, high-stakes elections may be over but don’t shelve your voting obligations just yet. Some of the most crucial elections are just getting primed in the 60-plus cities and towns throughout the 10-county metro Atlanta region. Who’s running […]
James Carville: Georgia pulled off the most significant statewide election in the country
The Georgia runoffs were the most significant statewide elections ever, national political consultant James Carville said in an exclusive Zoom conversation on Jan. 15.
The Week That Was: Georgia’s historic Senate wins overshadowed by insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
Historic U.S. Senate wins in Georgia were overshadowed by an insurrection involving violent Trump supporters, including some from Georgia.
Atlanta police arrest racial justice activists for “obstructing traffic” after Trump fans wreak havoc across nation
Just hours after a violent mob of pro-Trump activists stormed the nation’s capitol, and after a pro-Trump militia’s presence forced Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to evacuate the downtown Atlanta statehouse, Atlanta police arrested nearly two dozen racial justice activists for demonstrating on city streets.
Georgia runoff results, Jan. 5, 2021
Expect counting to continue to Wednesday. At least.
Georgia SOS office debunks election rumors – again – ahead of Senate runoffs
For the past few weeks, Georgia has been a political minefield as residents will decide who their next two Senators are. Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are challenging Republican incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, respectively.
