Stacey Abrams slammed the GOP for placing restrictions on voting laws she saw as something reminiscent of "post-Reconstruction Jim Crow-era laws" during an interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid.
The Democratic voting rights activist, who formerly served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, said her statement was not "hyperbolic" during a discussion on the current voting changes and requirements and how much worse it can get—including in her home state of Georgia.
Abrams explained these news laws essentially limit access to registration, casting a ballot, and having that ballot counted, which consequently pushes millions of voters—mainly people of color—out of the voting process.
You can watch the MSNBC interview with Stacey Abrams in the video below.
Abrams said banning automatic voter registration results in millions of Americans being prevented from registering to vote unless "someone comes to find them."
The venerated political strategist continued:
"If you increase the photo ID requirements, there are millions of Americans who simply cannot meet those requirements because the underlying paperwork that they have to have either doesn't exist, is too expensive, or is too complicated to access."
"We know that again and again these laws are designed for one specific purpose and that is to discourage or prevent people from voting."
In 2018, Abrams founded the Fair Fight Action organization, which addresses voter suppression—especially in Georgia and Texas—and aims to change voter registration laws to increase the number of eligible voters.
Her activism helped give Democrats control of the Senate during Georiga's U.S. Senate election in 2020-21, and she was credited for helping Joe Biden win the state in the 2020 presidential election.
On Monday, Georgia's House of Representatives passed House Bill 531 on a party line vote of 97-72.
Many Democrats believe the 66-page bill was created by Republicans after losing the presidential election and two Senate seats.
Currently on its way to the Senate, HB 531would restrict ballot drop boxes, reduce the number of early voting days, require an ID to apply for an absentee voting ballot, and make it a misdemeanor to give food or drink to people waiting in line to vote if they are within 150 feet of a polling place.
House Democrats lambasted the controversial bill and accused Republicans of reversing voting rights in Georgia out of spite.
Democratic State Representative Rhonda Burnough told WSB-TV:
"Georgia Republicans are lashing out after the back to back losses in the last election cycle and trying to turn back the clock on our voting rights."
In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis—already known for enforcing voter suppression by limiting drop boxes and requiring registration for mail-in ballots—made it so convicted felons would have to settle any court costs, fines, fees, and restitution to victims before having their voting rights restored.
Opponents argued his ruling went against the wishes of Florida voters who approved an amendment to the state's constitution in 2018 that restored voting rights for convicted felons.
She asked for a call to action for these bills to stop at the local and state legislatures and to fight for the proposed For the People Act (H.R. 1 in the House and S. 1 in the Senate) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4)—which restore the Voting Rights Act's protections in states known for their racial discrimination in voting practices—to "become the law of the land in the United States."
People continue praising the Nobel Peace Prize nominee for fighting the good fight.
In the MSBNC interview, Abrams added we are "watching a nationwide sweep of voter suppression that is not only abysmal, it is counter to who we say we are as Americans."
"When you can win elections not by having the best ideas but by stealing the right to vote then you do not deserve to win and you do not deserve the right to participate."
@kileywrestling/Bluesky
