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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms lied Tuesday in a Democratic fundraising email, claiming the new Georgia elections law passed by Republicans barred voters from accepting water in line at the polls.

In an email with the subject line, “Illegal to hand someone a bottle of water if they’re waiting in line to vote?” Bottoms wrote in bold, “Now, under S.B. 202, it’s illegal to hand voters a bottle of water while they wait in line.”

The new Georgia law, however, which expands early voting, offers no such broad prohibition on water given to voters in line.

While the law bars political interest groups from trying to influence voter decisions in line with refreshments punishable by misdemeanor, the new restrictions provide explicit exceptions to election workers.

> Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms lied Tuesday in a Democratic fundraising email, claiming the new Georgia elections law passed by Republicans barred voters from accepting water in line at the polls. > In an email with the subject line, “Illegal to hand someone a bottle of water if they’re waiting in line to vote?” Bottoms wrote in bold, “Now, under S.B. 202, it’s illegal to hand voters a bottle of water while they wait in line.” > The new Georgia law, however, which expands early voting, offers no such broad prohibition on water given to voters in line. > While the law bars political interest groups from trying to influence voter decisions in line with refreshments punishable by misdemeanor, the new restrictions provide explicit exceptions to election workers.

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[–] • 1 pt

Is this unattended receptacle where voters in line pass by it, or do they have to leave the line to get water and then go the end of the line because they got out of line?

[–] • 1 pt

The section allows for food and drink to be made available to voters by anyone if it is not directly in view of the line. It also allows for an unattended water receptacle to be made available. It doesn't specify the distance for that.

The purpose of the changes is simple. To prevent electioneering. There have been laws against that for decades. Poll workers can make food and water available because they're not (at least they're not supposed to be) advocating for any particular candidate.

[–] • 0 pt

If someone has to get out of line to get a drink of water, do they have to go to the back of the line?

[–] • 0 pt

No they don't. Not from anything in the statutes, anyway.