ATLANTA – Recently, nearly a dozen young men dedicated their morning at Georgia STAND-UP, preparing care packages filled with masks, mints, and hand sanitizers for voters bracing for long waits starting in October.

Meanwhile, The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda was busy setting up voter registration booths at various local colleges and senior community centers.

Organizers from RISE at Clark Atlanta University worked to register students and gather pledge cards at the historically Black institution.

In response to what they label as voter suppression in Georgia, grassroots groups are focused on registering thousands of voters from diverse backgrounds, encouraging them to cast their ballots early, vote in person, and ensure a significant turnout to eliminate any doubts about the election results.

As Georgia plays a critical role in the presidential election, these groups are committed to helping voters navigate and understand the state’s stringent election changes.

“To counteract the voter suppression tactics or barriers being set up, we need a robust turnout,’’ stated Helen Butler, executive director of the nonpartisan Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda. “We’re not directing people on who to vote for, but urging them to vote and wield their power… A large turnout will leave no room for election deniers.”

Recently, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have both campaigned in Georgia, which surveys indicate is a battleground in the race for the presidency. The state is crucial for both candidates’ chances of winning.

“Everyone understands that the path to the White House, in one form or another, goes through Georgia,’’ remarked Deborah Scott, executive director of Georgia STAND-UP. “The world is observing Georgia.”

Georgia Under the National Spotlight Again

Local activists are not surprised to see Georgia back in the national limelight.

The state drew significant attention in 2022 when Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock won against Republican candidate Herschel Walker, largely thanks to high turnout among Black voters who typically support Democratic candidates.

Activists in Georgia emphasize that they have been focused on increasing voter participation for many years, which they believe also contributed to President Joe Biden’s narrow victory over Trump in 2020.

“This didn’t occur by chance,” noted Yolanda Pickstock, legislative and policy director for Georgia STAND-UP. “Significant efforts led us to this point, so it’s no surprise that Georgia is in play.”

Trump has repeatedly made unfounded claims that he won Georgia in the 2020 election, which has been debunked by election officials, including those from his own party.

Attention on Georgia has also intensified due to election reforms enacted by the Republican-controlled legislature following the 2020 elections. These changes, signed into law by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, include a requirement for a photo ID to vote absentee by mail, shorter periods to request absentee ballots, and restrictions on the number of ballot drop boxes. The laws also transfer more authority from local election boards to the state legislature. Notably, one provision makes it a misdemeanor to distribute food or water to voters near polling locations.

In May, Kemp approved another election law that reduces the timeframe before Election Day that voters can be removed from election rolls.

Advocates for voting rights argue these changes are intended to suppress voter turnout, especially among Black residents, who account for roughly 30% of Georgia’s population.

Proponents of the law argue it is necessary to prevent voter fraud and enhance public confidence in the electoral system.

Trump has recently threatened to imprison election officials if fraud is uncovered during the 2024 elections.

Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized another recent change by three Republicans on the Georgia State Election Board that mandates county audits of even minor discrepancies between the count of ballots cast and the number of voters before election results can be certified.

Wendy Weiser, vice president for the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center, remarked

The recent maneuver described as “disruptive” is anticipated to face legal rejection.

“It is illegal to overturn election results, irrespective of who asserts authority or which boards create rules, regardless of the conspiracy theories circulated or the alleged issues raised,” she stated. “This tactic aims to garner public sympathy and convince people to believe in these unfounded theories, potentially paving the way for anti-democratic actions in the future.”

However, David Becker, the executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, highlighted that Georgia offers convenient options for voting, such as mail-in ballots, extensive early voting, and automatic voter registration. He pointed out that Georgia boasts one of the highest voter registration rates nationwide.

“While there may be improvements that both sides might advocate for, Georgia excels overall in its electoral practices,” he mentioned. “You can choose the voting method that suits you best. Whether it’s option one, option two, or option three, all are designed to be straightforward and accessible. Georgia is efficient in counting its ballots.”

“If all states conducted their elections like Georgia, we would be in a much better position,” Becker noted.

‘They are aware of the stakes’

On a recent afternoon, organizers from RISE, wearing “Youth Wave” T-shirts, engaged students strolling along Clark Atlanta University’s promenade.

Ebony Brown, RISE’s Georgia state director, approached one student to inquire about her voter registration status. Next thing, the student was completing a voter registration form.

“They’re genuinely excited and eager to vote,” Brown said of the students. “They understand what’s at risk.”

RISE plans to establish voter registration booths at additional campuses throughout the state. They recently organized “RISE University” to educate students on civic responsibilities, including the rules surrounding elections.

“We’ve been actively working to counter the actions of election boards that are consolidating polling locations, especially in rural areas,” stated Mary-Pat Hector, RISE’s CEO. “We strive to prevent voter purging, a practice we’ve observed since 2018 when Stacey Abrams was a gubernatorial candidate. Unfortunately, this tactic is becoming common across the nation.”

Abrams, a Democrat, who ran for governor unsuccessfully, has been credited with establishing a grassroots organization that significantly increased Black voter turnout.

Hector emphasized that the group’s mission focuses on ensuring individuals, especially young voters, possess the necessary information to participate in elections.

This Tuesday marks National Voter Registration Day.

Weiser commended the efforts to mobilize voters to bolster victory margins, but cautioned that not all victories will be significant. She stressed the need for sustained initiatives “in Georgia and other regions to enhance public resilience, enabling citizens to discern misinformation and access trustworthy sources such as the top election officials.”

In the Georgia STAND-UP headquarters’ lower level, over a dozen staff members dedicated a recent morning to phone banking, checking voter registration statuses, and encouraging participation in upcoming elections. The organization has opened eight regional offices and aims to recruit 300 to 400 canvassers.

“One of our key strategies involves knocking on doors and engaging individuals directly,” Scott explained.

Our goal is to fill the polls

In her office at People’s Agenda, Butler received a call from a local official asking for help registering voters at an event that evening. Butler embraces even last-minute requests.

“Our aim is to maximize voter turnout,” Butler remarked, noting that nearly 1 million Black Georgians registered in 2020 and 2022 did not cast a vote.

The organization operates seven locations statewide and is set to open an additional office. It sets up voter registration tables in colleges, high schools, grocery stores, and popular areas. Additionally, it is intensifying efforts at courthouses and jails.

The organization has launched a new initiative called “Overload the Polls,” encouraging Black women to come out in person on October 15, the first day of early voting, and to bring their families along.

The organization advises voters not to depend on the postal service for their ballots, citing potential delays, nor to wait until Election Day when long lines could be a significant hurdle.

Women participating in the initiative are invited to wear Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers along with a free T-shirt that the group will offer to individuals who sign up. Harris is known to sport Chucks during her campaign events.

“We want to see a huge turnout at the polls,’’ stated Butler, noting that she hasn’t witnessed this level of enthusiasm since 2008 when Barack Obama was a candidate for president. “This will demonstrate that Black women will show up at the polls in historic numbers, similar to how they rallied for Obama. They often bring their communities with them too.”

Contributing: Aysha Bagchi