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GA SB536

GA SB536
"Henry McNeal Turner Voting Rights Act"; enact

summary

Introduced
02/19/2026
In Committee
02/20/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections, so as to enact the "Henry McNeal Turner Voting Rights Act"; to prohibit voter suppression and vote dilution; to provide guidelines and rules for evaluating voter suppression and vote dilution; to establish the Georgia Voting Rights Commission and to provide duties and powers thereof; to provide for commissioners, their selection, terms, and compensation; to provide for a nominating committee; to provide for commission staff; to attach the commission to the Secretary of State's office for administrative purposes; to provide for preclearance of certain policies and procedures related to voting; to provide for covered policies; to provide for covered political subdivisions; to provide standards for preclearance determinations; to provide procedures for obtaining preclearance; to provide protections for limited English proficient voters and voters with disabilities; to provide for unwritten languages and voters educated in Puerto Rico and American territories; to provide for in-language services; to establish the Georgia Voting and Elections Database and Institute; to provide for the mission of such institute; to provide for data to be maintained and produced by the institute; to provide for data standards; to provide for authentication; to require state and local agencies to cooperate with the institute; to allow for technical assistance; to provide an exemption from the open records requirements; to provide for annual reporting; to prohibit intimidation, deception, and obstruction of voters; to provide for damages; to provide for public notice of voting related changes; to provide a democracy cannon; to provide for enforcement; to provide standing; to provide a safe harbor; to provide for judicial actions, expedited review, relief, and remedies; to limit causes of action; to prohibit the defense of laches; to authorize attorney's fees; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for construction; to waive privileges and sovereign immunity; to provide legislative findings and declarations; to provide for definitions; to provide for effective dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, titled the "Henry McNeal Turner Voting Rights Act," aims to prevent voter suppression and vote dilution in Georgia by establishing new guidelines and a commission to oversee election policies. It defines key terms like "voter suppression" (practices that unfairly limit participation or access to voting) and "vote dilution" (methods of election that weaken the voting power of protected groups, such as racial or language minorities). The bill creates the Georgia Voting Rights Commission, composed of five commissioners selected through a nominating committee process, to review and approve certain election policies and practices before they are implemented by local governments or state agencies, a process known as "preclearance." This preclearance requirement applies to policies that could potentially diminish voting opportunities for protected classes or alter election methods. The bill also mandates language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency (LEP) and voters educated in Puerto Rico and American territories, requiring translated materials and in-language services based on demographic thresholds. Furthermore, it establishes the Georgia Voting and Elections Database and Institute to collect and make public election data, and prohibits voter intimidation, deception, and obstruction, providing for damages and legal actions to enforce these provisions. The act also includes provisions for public notice of voting-related changes, a "democracy cannon" (likely referring to a foundational set of principles for democracy), and allows for expedited judicial review and remedies for voting rights violations, while waiving sovereign immunity for the state and its political subdivisions in such cases.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (15)

Last Action

Senate Read and Referred (on 02/20/2026)

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