Voter suppression is still on the minds of many Georgians following the 2018 midterm election. Local legislators are using a film to encourage dialogue around the issue.
Georgia Sen. Nikema Williams, Reps. Derrick Jackson and William Boddie and City of South Fulton District 3 Councilwoman Helen Z. Willis held a screening of the movie Suppressed: The Fight to Vote and a voting machine demonstration on Tuesday, February 4.
Residents had a chance to learn about voter suppression and other issues that have plagued Georgia voters, including voter purges, missing absentee ballots and long wait times.
“Many people didn’t get their votes counted and felt marginalized during the 2018 midterm election,” said Willis. “I’m fully committed to ensuring residents have an opportunity to exercise their right to vote in an equitable democracy. The movie screening and voting machine demonstration highlighted several irregularities in the last election cycle and gave residents an opportunity to learn about the new voting machines.”
A Fulton County representative was on hand to give residents tutorials of how to use the new voting machines. The new system features touchscreens, printed paper ballots and ballot scanners.
According to the film, Georgia has closed 214 polling places since 2012, affecting nearly 1.3 million voters.
“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy,” Sen. Nikema Williams said. “I will always stand up to make sure that right is not taken away. Until we get this right, nothing else matters.”
The voter registration deadline for the March 24 presidential primaries election is February 24. Voters still have time to test out Georgia’s new voting machines. Fulton County’s Department of Registration & Elections will hold a mock election on Tuesday, February 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 13 locations across Fulton County.
Locations include the Fulton County Government Center, South Fulton Service Center and the East Point, College Park and Wolf Creek Library Branches.