Ballot Drop Box
Caption

A voter drops their ballot off during early voting, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Athens, Ga. Since the 2021 passage of Senate Bill 202, which overhauled elections in Georgia, the numbers of and access to such drop boxes have been limited.

Credit: John Bazemore/The Associated Press

The panel:

Andra Gillespie, @AndraGillespie, professor of political science & director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference, Emory University

Joseph Kirk, Bartow County elections director

Mark Niesse, @markniesse, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter covering voting and elections

Matt Brown, @mrbrownsir, Washington Post Democracy Team reporter

 

The breakdown:

1. Merrick Garland says DOJ filed motion to unseal the Mar-a-Lago warrant and property receipt.

LISTEN: Matt Brown breaks down an event week at Mar-a-Lago.

 

2. History of voting rights in Georgia and how they affect voters of color.

  • The passing of the 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote, but there were still discriminatory practices such as poll taxes, literary tests and outright discrimination. 
  • The Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964 all attempted to strengthen the voting rights of African Americans to little avail. Only the Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave teeth to the enforcement of non-discriminatory laws and practices. 

LISTEN: Andra Gillespie gives a history primer on voting rights.

 

3. Changes in Senate Bill 202 and how they affect election workers.

 

4. How is turnout affected by Georgia's new voting law?

  • We have less than 90 days until Georgia's primary election. You must register to voter by Oct. 10.

    • You can check your voter registration status here.

LISTEN: Mark Niesse speaks on voter turnout.

5. How are drop boxes being affected across the country?

Monday on Political Rewind: Host Bill Nigut returns. Enjoy your weekend!