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| Georgia Republicans advance sweeping new restrictions on voting – live | Georgia Republicans advance sweeping new restrictions on voting – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Bill passed in senate is slap in the face to Black voters, say Democrats | Bill passed in senate is slap in the face to Black voters, say Democrats |
| Stacey Abrams: ‘Every single metric of voter access that has been a good in Georgia is now under attack.’ | |
| Mother Jones has reaction from voting rights activist Stacey Abrams to the state senate’s passage of a bill that would make it more difficult for Georgia residents to vote: | |
| Read more reaction from Abrams here, including calling the measures “Jim Crow in a suit and tie.” | |
| More context on Georgia Republican’s attempts to limit absentee voting | |
| As my colleague Sam Levine notes, the successful vote in Georgia today to advance a Republican measure to eliminate no-excuse absentee voting in the state is only a step towards making that policy into law, and it’s far from clear what the final legislation will look like. | |
| But there are lots of reasons why this attempt to roll back absentee voting after Democrats won an election is prompting so much condemnation, including its likely impact on Black voters, wait times to vote, and the fact that Republicans are repealing a policy that they passed in the first place. | |
| Democrats won an election. Georgia Republicans are pushing for new limits on voting. | Democrats won an election. Georgia Republicans are pushing for new limits on voting. |
| The Georgia state senate approved its own version of a bill that would eliminate no-excuse absentee voting in the state, among other restrictions. The bill passed 29-20, a one vote majority. | The Georgia state senate approved its own version of a bill that would eliminate no-excuse absentee voting in the state, among other restrictions. The bill passed 29-20, a one vote majority. |
| In addition to requiring an excuse, the senate bill would require voters to show identification information when they vote by mail. The bill will now advance to the Georgia house of representatives, which approved a bill with similar restrictions, but that left no-excuse absentee voting in place. That bill included new limits on ballot drop boxes. | In addition to requiring an excuse, the senate bill would require voters to show identification information when they vote by mail. The bill will now advance to the Georgia house of representatives, which approved a bill with similar restrictions, but that left no-excuse absentee voting in place. That bill included new limits on ballot drop boxes. |
| Top Republicans in the state have advocated keeping no excuse absentee voting in place and it’s unclear what a final version of the bill will actually look like. | Top Republicans in the state have advocated keeping no excuse absentee voting in place and it’s unclear what a final version of the bill will actually look like. |
| Democratic state lawmakers in Georgia spent hours this morning denouncing a new bill that would institute a range of new voting restrictions, with one noting “This bill smells like voter suppression. This smells like Jim Crow laws, and it stinks like the smell of a deer carcass on I-16.” | Democratic state lawmakers in Georgia spent hours this morning denouncing a new bill that would institute a range of new voting restrictions, with one noting “This bill smells like voter suppression. This smells like Jim Crow laws, and it stinks like the smell of a deer carcass on I-16.” |
| Republican lawmakers succeeded in advancing the bill anyway, approving the bill on a 29-20 vote. My colleague Sam Levine will have more shortly. | Republican lawmakers succeeded in advancing the bill anyway, approving the bill on a 29-20 vote. My colleague Sam Levine will have more shortly. |
| Biden announces nomination of two female officers to 4-star command positions | Biden announces nomination of two female officers to 4-star command positions |
| This is Lois Beckett taking over our live politics coverage from our west coast bureau in California. | This is Lois Beckett taking over our live politics coverage from our west coast bureau in California. |
| The president just finished speaking now about what the US can do to make sure that all women are supported in their careers within the US military, from promoting women to prestigious command positions, to making sure women’s careers do not suffer when they have children, to ensuring that the military supplies “body armor that fits women properly” and “updating requirements for their hairstyles”. | The president just finished speaking now about what the US can do to make sure that all women are supported in their careers within the US military, from promoting women to prestigious command positions, to making sure women’s careers do not suffer when they have children, to ensuring that the military supplies “body armor that fits women properly” and “updating requirements for their hairstyles”. |
| “This is going to be an all-hands on deck effort to end the scourge of sexual assault in the military,” the president pledged. | “This is going to be an all-hands on deck effort to end the scourge of sexual assault in the military,” the president pledged. |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague Lois Beckett will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague Lois Beckett will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Joe Biden will deliver a primetime address on Thursday to mark one year since the start of coronavirus lockdowns, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced. The speech will be Biden’s first primetime address since becoming president. | Joe Biden will deliver a primetime address on Thursday to mark one year since the start of coronavirus lockdowns, White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced. The speech will be Biden’s first primetime address since becoming president. |
| Biden said he would sign the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill “as soon as I can get it”. The relief bill passed the Senate on Saturday, and the House is now expected to take up the legislation on Wednesday. | Biden said he would sign the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill “as soon as I can get it”. The relief bill passed the Senate on Saturday, and the House is now expected to take up the legislation on Wednesday. |
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its long-awaited guidance for fully vaccinated Americans. According to the CDC guidance, those who have been fully vaccinated can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without wearing masks, as long as everyone in the household is healthy and low risk. | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its long-awaited guidance for fully vaccinated Americans. According to the CDC guidance, those who have been fully vaccinated can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without wearing masks, as long as everyone in the household is healthy and low risk. |
| Georgia Democrats sharply criticized Republicans for proposing restrictions on voting rights, which activists have said will disproportionately impact Black voters. The state Senate is considering the Republican bill today. “This is weaponization of Trump’s lies,” Democratic state senator Elena Parent said of the bill. | Georgia Democrats sharply criticized Republicans for proposing restrictions on voting rights, which activists have said will disproportionately impact Black voters. The state Senate is considering the Republican bill today. “This is weaponization of Trump’s lies,” Democratic state senator Elena Parent said of the bill. |
| The trial for the former police officer who killed George Floyd has been delayed. The trial of Derek Chauvin was scheduled to begin today with jury selection, but the judge overseeing the trial postponed for at least a day due to an ongoing dispute over an additional charge against the former police officer. | The trial for the former police officer who killed George Floyd has been delayed. The trial of Derek Chauvin was scheduled to begin today with jury selection, but the judge overseeing the trial postponed for at least a day due to an ongoing dispute over an additional charge against the former police officer. |
| Lois will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | Lois will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| More from the Guardian’s Sam Levine on the voting restrictions under consideration in Georgia: | More from the Guardian’s Sam Levine on the voting restrictions under consideration in Georgia: |
| The state senator Harold Jones, another Democrat, said that Republicans should pay special attention to Black lawmakers who spoke out against the bill. He predicted that many senators who spoke out against the bill would become emotional. | The state senator Harold Jones, another Democrat, said that Republicans should pay special attention to Black lawmakers who spoke out against the bill. He predicted that many senators who spoke out against the bill would become emotional. |
| “It’s because that most basic right was denied to us. It’s not 1800, it’s not 1850s, it’s right here in this room. Many of the senators that sit here lived through that process,” he said. “Let me tell you, it is not theater. It is not a performance. It is real because we live with it every single day.” | “It’s because that most basic right was denied to us. It’s not 1800, it’s not 1850s, it’s right here in this room. Many of the senators that sit here lived through that process,” he said. “Let me tell you, it is not theater. It is not a performance. It is real because we live with it every single day.” |
| The state senator Jen Jordan, also a Democrat, criticized the haphazard process Republicans used to advance legislation, noting that hearings were held at 7am and lawmakers were often scrambling to see the text of legislation they were voting on - if they got to see it at all. | The state senator Jen Jordan, also a Democrat, criticized the haphazard process Republicans used to advance legislation, noting that hearings were held at 7am and lawmakers were often scrambling to see the text of legislation they were voting on - if they got to see it at all. |
| “That’s sloppy y’all,” she said. “Especially when you’re talking about a bill that’s going to impact people’s lives. That’s going to impact people’s fundamental right to vote. Actually, it’s pretty shameful.” | “That’s sloppy y’all,” she said. “Especially when you’re talking about a bill that’s going to impact people’s lives. That’s going to impact people’s fundamental right to vote. Actually, it’s pretty shameful.” |
| The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: | The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports: |
| Georgia Democrats were unsparing in their attacks on a sweeping bill to restrict voting in Georgia on Monday, saying the measure was based on lies about the election and a slap in the face to Black Georgians who fought hard for the right to vote in the state. | Georgia Democrats were unsparing in their attacks on a sweeping bill to restrict voting in Georgia on Monday, saying the measure was based on lies about the election and a slap in the face to Black Georgians who fought hard for the right to vote in the state. |
| One of the state’s top Republicans, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, also refused to preside over the senate as the chamber considered legislation that would do away with no-excuse absentee voting and require voters to show identification when they vote by mail. | One of the state’s top Republicans, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, also refused to preside over the senate as the chamber considered legislation that would do away with no-excuse absentee voting and require voters to show identification when they vote by mail. |
| Duncan, who supports some restrictions, does not back doing away with no-excuse absentee voting. Three other Republicans who do not support ending no-excuse absentee voting also recused themselves from the vote, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. | Duncan, who supports some restrictions, does not back doing away with no-excuse absentee voting. Three other Republicans who do not support ending no-excuse absentee voting also recused themselves from the vote, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. |
| ‘This is weaponization of Trump’s lies. And it is a willingness and embrace of damage to American democracy,” said state Sen. Elena Parent, a Democrat. | ‘This is weaponization of Trump’s lies. And it is a willingness and embrace of damage to American democracy,” said state Sen. Elena Parent, a Democrat. |
| “The numbers to stop this bill may not be here in this chamber today. But I assure you there are many thousands of Georgians right now whose political spirit is awakened by disgust at modern day voter suppression,” she added. | “The numbers to stop this bill may not be here in this chamber today. But I assure you there are many thousands of Georgians right now whose political spirit is awakened by disgust at modern day voter suppression,” she added. |
| Correction: An earlier version of this post said the bill would also limit early voting and drop boxes, which it does not. | Correction: An earlier version of this post said the bill would also limit early voting and drop boxes, which it does not. |
| After spending the past four months lying about massive fraud among mailed ballots in the presidential election, Donald Trump is set to vote by mail -- again. | After spending the past four months lying about massive fraud among mailed ballots in the presidential election, Donald Trump is set to vote by mail -- again. |
| The Palm Beach Post has the story: | The Palm Beach Post has the story: |
| Amudalat Ajasa reports for the Guardian from Minneapolis: | Amudalat Ajasa reports for the Guardian from Minneapolis: |
| The judge overseeing the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd delayed the start of jury selection on Monday for at least a day while an appeal proceeds over the possible reinstatement of an additional charge. | The judge overseeing the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd delayed the start of jury selection on Monday for at least a day while an appeal proceeds over the possible reinstatement of an additional charge. |
| Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the courthouse demanding racial justice and the conviction of Derek Chauvin, who is white and was fired and charged with murder after he knelt on Floyd’s neck when the Black man had been forced to the ground during an attempted arrest last May. | Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the courthouse demanding racial justice and the conviction of Derek Chauvin, who is white and was fired and charged with murder after he knelt on Floyd’s neck when the Black man had been forced to the ground during an attempted arrest last May. |
| Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter but the Minnesota court of appeals ruled last Friday that a previous, lesser charge of third-degree murder should be reinstated in the trial by the judge, Peter Cahill. | Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter but the Minnesota court of appeals ruled last Friday that a previous, lesser charge of third-degree murder should be reinstated in the trial by the judge, Peter Cahill. |
| Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s lead lawyer, told the court on Monday morning that Chauvin would soon ask the Minnesota supreme court to overturn Friday’s order, a process that could take weeks. | Eric Nelson, Chauvin’s lead lawyer, told the court on Monday morning that Chauvin would soon ask the Minnesota supreme court to overturn Friday’s order, a process that could take weeks. |
| Prosecutors from the Minnesota attorney general’s office urged the court to delay jury selection until that issue was resolved, fearing that picking a jury when the number of charges was still unresolved could make an appeal easier. | Prosecutors from the Minnesota attorney general’s office urged the court to delay jury selection until that issue was resolved, fearing that picking a jury when the number of charges was still unresolved could make an appeal easier. |
| Cahill declined. Prosecutors then said they would ask the appeals court to intervene to delay the trial. Cahill suspended the proceedings until Tuesday morning. | Cahill declined. Prosecutors then said they would ask the appeals court to intervene to delay the trial. Cahill suspended the proceedings until Tuesday morning. |
| At least two prominent Missouri Democrats have already said they do not plan to run for Roy Blunt’s Senate seat, after the Republican lawmaker announced he would not seek reelection next year. | At least two prominent Missouri Democrats have already said they do not plan to run for Roy Blunt’s Senate seat, after the Republican lawmaker announced he would not seek reelection next year. |
| Former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, who lost her 2018 reelection race to Republican Josh Hawley, said she did not plan to run for office ever again. | Former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, who lost her 2018 reelection race to Republican Josh Hawley, said she did not plan to run for office ever again. |
| And Jason Kander, the former Missouri secretary of state who lost to Blunt by 3 points in 2016, said he would continue focusing on his work to end veteran homelessness. | And Jason Kander, the former Missouri secretary of state who lost to Blunt by 3 points in 2016, said he would continue focusing on his work to end veteran homelessness. |