>>> IF YOU APPROVE OR TAKE GEORGIA BACK 70 TO 80 YEARS IN TIME.

BACK TO A TIME THAT MANY OF US HAVE FOUGHT FOR AND MANY HAVE DIED, PUT BEHIND US.

>> STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE HOUSE BILL THAT MAKES SWEEPING CHANGES TO GEORGIA.

GOOD EVENING TO "LAWMAKERS" ON THIS LEGISLATIVE DAY 25.

I'M DONNA LOWRY IN ATLANTA.

WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE IN A MOMENT ON PROTESTS AND THE DEBATE OVER THE EXPANSIVE PUBLIC ELECTIONS BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE TODAY.

I DID A ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SHORTLY AFTER HE LEFT THE HOUSE FLOOR.

ALSO ON THE SHOW, RESPONSE FROM THE DEMOCRATS WITH HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMES BEVERLY HERE IN THE STUDIO.

IN THE SENATE TODAY, LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL TO BUILD A MONUMENT ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS TO HONOR FORMER GEORGIA GOVERNOR ZEL MILLER.

FIRST TO THE CAPITOL AND OUR CORRESPONDENT WITH THE WRAP-UP OF ALL THE DAY'S NEWS UNDER THE GOLD DOME INCLUDING PROTESTS OVER THE HOUSE ELECTIONS BILL.

BRENDA?

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, DONNA.

A BUSY DAY INDEED TODAY.

HOUSE BILL 531 PASSED 97-72 AFTER MUCH DEBATE AND DISCUSSION.

ONE LEGISLATOR CALLED THE MEASURE, QUOTE, JIM CROW IN A SUIT.

IT WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE VOTING AND HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN.

BEFORE THE VOTE THIS AFTERNOON, THOSE OPPOSING THE BILL AND THOSE IN FAVOR OF IT WERE GIVEN ONE HOUR EACH BY HOUSE SPEAKER DAVID LAWSON TO SPEAK.

LISTEN IN ON SOME OF THAT DEBATE.

REPRESENTATIVE CALVIN SMYRIE TALKED ABOUT THE VOTERS IN HIS DISTRICT.

>> THEY MADE IT KNOWN TO ME IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, THEY MADE IT VERY EMPHATIC THAT HOUSE BILL 531 TAKES US IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> MEN LIE.

WOMEN LIE.

NUMBERS DON'T.

THE NUMBERS ARE TEXTBOOK VOTER SUPPRESSION.

Y'ALL NEED TO BE READY TO OWN YOUR STUFF.

>> Reporter: IT WAS THEN TIME FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOR TO MAKE THEIR POINT.

>> HOUSE BILL 531 WILL GREATLY IMPROVE OUR ELECTIONS PROCESSES FOR ALL VOTERS.

>> Reporter: AND THOSE WHO SAY HB 531 TOOK PRECEDENCE OF BLACK VOTE, REPRESENTATIVE ALAN POWELL SAID THIS DURING THE DEBATE.

>> YOU CAN TALK ABOUT RACE, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT GENDER, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S ONLY ONE COLOR.

AND THAT'S THE COLOR OF THE BLOOD THAT EVERY ONE OF US SHARES A COMMON.

>> Reporter: HOUSE BILL 531 HEADS TO THE SENATE WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF ELECTION BILLS.

AS LAWMAKERS MADE THEIR WAY INSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL THIS MORNING, THEY CROSSED PATHS WITH THOSE PROTESTING HOUSE BILL 531.

AMONG THEM, REPRESENTATIVE RENITTA.

>> IT WOULD ROLL BACK VOTING RIGHTS AND TARGETED AT BLACK VOTERS.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SO MANY BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS STANDING UP AGAINST THIS BILL.

>> Reporter: SITTING BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAPITOL, CHAINED TOGETHER, WERE GIVEN ENCOURAGING WORDS.

>> I AM FOR YOU YOUNG PEOPLE AND SO SORRY TO SEE Y'ALL ON A WHITE GROUND, AGAIN, PROTESTING FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THE RIGHT.

SO GOD BLESS Y'ALL.

>> Reporter: OTHER PROTESTERS STOOD ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL CARRYING SIGNS AND A MEGA PHONE.

SO THERE WAS NO MISTAKING THEIR MESSAGE.

>> HOUSE BILL 531 IS STANDING IN THE WAY OF OUR FREEDOM.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ONE ELECTION THEY LOST.

ONE ELECTION, THE REPUBLICANS LOST.

AND LOOK WHAT THEY DID.

LOOK WHAT THEY DID.

>> Reporter: ON THE SENATE FLOOR, SENATE BILL 140 PRESENTED BY THE BILL'S LEAD SPONSOR, JEFF.

IT PROPOSES THE MONUMENT BE ERECTED FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR ZELL MILLER.

>> THIS IS ABOUT THE MAN WHO GAVE US HOPE.

THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP IS A STATE SENATOR, A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, A GOVERNOR AND A UNITED STATES SENATOR.

ZELL MILLER WAS EVERYTHING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THIS BILL SIMPLY CREATES A COMMISSION THAT DIVIDES THE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE, THE MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY PARTY TO BE A PART OF PUTTING THIS STATUE ON THE GROUNDS.

OF COURSE, THERE'S MANY ASPECTS TO THAT.

ALL COVERED IN THE BILL, BUT THIS IS A BILL THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.

>> SENATE BILL 140 PASSED IN THE SENATE 50-0.

NOW ON TO A BELOVED ANNUAL EVENT AT THE CAPITOL, HOUSE RESOLUTION 227 RECOGNIZES TODAY MARCH 1st AS PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY TODAY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DAY.

THE GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS MADE A DELICIOUS APPEARANCE TODAY TO KICK OFF NATIONAL PEANUT MONTH WITH ALL KINDS OF PEANUT TREATS FOR THE TAKING.

THE MAIN EVENT, OF COURSE, HOT PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES GRILLED ON DEMAND.

TO HEIGHTEN THE CELEBRATION, THE GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION AND PEANUT PROUD DONATED 14,400 JARS OF PEANUT BUTTER TO THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK TO HELP THE NEARLY 20% OF GEORGIANS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE.

SO WHY PEANUTS?

WELL, GEORGIA LEADS THE U.S.

IN PEANUT PRODUCTION AND PRODUCES ABOUT 53% OF THE NATION'S SUPPLY.

THAT WAS IN 2020.

WELL, DONNA, THAT IS MY CAPITOL REPORT.

I HOPE YOU GOT ONE OF THOSE SANDWICHES TODAY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BRENDA.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE NOW WITH THE BIG NEWS OF THE DAY.

THE PASSAGE OF HB 531 AND THE HOUSE BY A VOTE OF 97-72.

IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE 66 PAGE ELECTION REFORM BILL.

WITHIN MINUTES AFTER IT PASSED, I HAD THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH THE BILL'S SPONSOR, CHAIRMAN BARRY FLEMING.

BUT FIRST, LET'S HEAR HIM EXPLAIN SOME ASPECTS OF THE BILL ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THIS AFTERNOON.

>> THIS BILL'S GEORGIA RUNOFFS BACK TO A FOUR WEEK PERIOD IN GEORGIA VOTING BY USING A PARTIAL RANKED CHOICE VOTING SYSTEM FOR OVERSEAS VOTERS WHICH IS USED BY SEVERAL OTHER SOUTHERN STATES THAT HAVE RUNOFFS.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, NINE WEEKS RUNOFFS SEEM TO GO ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

WE USED TO ACCOMPLISH THEM QUITE WELL IN GEORGIA WHEN WE USED FOUR WEEKS AND THIS BILL BRINGS US BACK TO THAT.

ONE PERSON IN THE COMMITTEE REFERRED TO THIS SECTION OF THE BILL AS SHOULD BE NAMED, GIVE US OUR CHRISTMAS BACK.

HOW MANY OF US ENJOYED OVER CHRISTMAS SEEING ELECTION AD AFTER ELECTION AD AFTER ELECTION AD?

THAT SCENARIO WOULD BE AVOIDED BY GOING BACK TO A FOUR WEEK PERIOD.

THIS BILL ALSO BEGINS TO ELIMINATE WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS JUNGLES PRIMARIES IN GEORGIA.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU HAVE 20 PEOPLE ON A BALLOT LIKE WE SAW THIS NOVEMBER, I HAD HEARD ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE'S BALLOTS HAVING TO BE NOT COUNTED FOR THAT RACE BECAUSE THEY VOTED FOR TWO OR THREE PEOPLE.

WELL, WE ALL KNEW WE HAD TWO U.S.

SENATORS WE COULD VOTE FOR, RIGHT?

WELL, SO YOU COULD VOTE FOR TWO OUT OF THE 20, RIGHT?

YOU SEE HOW THE CONFUSION CAN BEGIN.

SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE BEGIN TO LIMIT THOSE JUNGLE PRIMARIES, SO-CALLED JUNGLE PRIMARIES IN THIS BILL.

THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES THE ROLES AND THE ACTIONS OF ELECTION OFFICIALS.

IT ALLOWS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THIS STATE TO ELECT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE ELECTIONS BOARD.

AS YOU KNOW, LIKE MANY BODIES, THE STATE ELECTION BOARD HAS SOME RULE MAKING AUTHORITY.

IT IS A QUASI LEGISLATIVE BODY.

THIS BILL SEPARATES THAT LEGISLATIVE FUNCTION FROM THE OFFICER WHO WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION OF MAKING SURE THAT THOSE LAWS AND THOSE RULES ARE FOLLOWED.

THE BILL ALSO REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT AND APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY NOTICE OF THE LEGISLATURE OF ANY EMERGENCY RULES THAT ARE BY THE STATE BOARD PRIOR TO AN ELECTION BEFORE THEY ARE ENACTED AND IT ALSO SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TO STRICTLY FOLLOW THE GEORGIA CODE.

THE BILL FURTHER PROVIDES FOR THAT PUBLIC ELECTIONS SHOULD BE FUNDED BY PUBLIC DOLLARS.

REGARDING ABSENTEE VOTING, THE BILL REPLACES THE CONTROVERSIAL SIGNATURE MATCHING WITH DRIVER'S LICENSES AND OTHER TYPES OF IDENTIFICATION FOR ABSENTEE VOTING.

THE BILL MAKES CLEAR WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION, INCLUDING DISCLAIMERS OF THIS IS NOT A BALLOT FOR OUR VOTERS WHO RECEIVED, AS YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE ABSENTEE BALLOTS DURING THE LAST SERIES OF ELECTIONS.

MANY A LEGISLATOR AND CITIZEN HAS COME TO ME AND SAID, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY I KNOW RECEIVED SEVEN ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

WELL, YOU AND I BOTH HAVE LEARNED THAT THE CHANCES ARE THAT THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY DID RECEIVE PROBABLY SEVEN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.

SO ONE OF THE COMMON SENSE MEASURES IN THE BILL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, NUMBER ONE, WHENEVER AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IS SENT OUT, THIS IS THE OFFICIAL AND CORRECT FORM, NOT PRE-FILLED OUT, CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IMPROPER INFORMATION COMING BACK TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, BUT ALSO THAT IT CLEARLY DISCLAIMS THAT IT IS NOT A BALLOT BUT AN ABSENTEE APPLICATION.

REGARDING ABSENTEE VOTING, WE ALSO SET THE START AND END DATES FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.

WE HAD TESTIMONY FROM ELECTION DIRECTORS IN OUR COMMITTEE THAT UNDER GEORGIA'S CURRENT LAW OF BEING ABLE TO APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE TUESDAY ELECTION, I THINK SHE HELD UP THIS NUMBER RIGHT HERE AND SAID, YOU HAD ABOUT THAT MUCH CHANCE ON IT GETTING OUT TO YOU AND GETTING BACK IN TIME SO YOUR VOTE COULD COUNT.

SO WE MOVED THAT ONE MORE FRIDAY BACK IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAW REFLECTS THE FACT THAT IF YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, YOU HAVE A REASONABLE DEADLINE IN WHICH TO DO IT SO YOU CAN GET YOUR BALLOT BACK IN TIME.

THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES THE IDEA OF EARLY SCANNING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

NOT TABULATING.

NOT COUNTING BUT PROCESSING THEM AND SCANNING THEM.

WE ALMOST SAW THE PICTURES OF, IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, BALLOTS BEING COUNTED AND THAT DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO CONFIDENCE ON ANYBODY'S PART.

YOUR MOTHER TELLS YOU WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER THAT PRETTY MUCH NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER MIDNIGHT AND OUR GOAL IN THIS BILL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT GEORGIA'S ELECTION RESULTS GET BACK QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY.

>> AS I MENTIONED, I INTERVIEWED FLEMING RIGHT AFTER THE VOTE IN HIS OFFICE.

I STARTED WITH ASKING HIM HOW HE FELT ABOUT THE DAY.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD MEASURE.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE BILL.

IT'S GOING TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE ONCE AGAIN IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

IT ALSO IS GOING TO HELP THE SUPERINTENDENTS WHO ACTUALLY RUN OUR ELECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO DO A BETTER JOB.

SO I FEEL REAL GOOD ABOUT THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> IF YOU HAD TO SUM IT UP FOR PEOPLE, WHAT ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> IT GETS RID OF THE CONTROVERSIAL SIGNATURE VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND IT MOVES TO A MORE OBJECTIVE DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER THAT 97% OF OUR CITIZENS IN GEORGIA USES FOR THEIR VOTING REGISTRATION.

SO IT BRINGS A LOT MORE SURETY TO A SYSTEM AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED IT.

>> HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE WHO SAY NOTHING WAS BROKEN?

WHY DO WE FEEL THE NEED TO FIX IT?

>> THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T WATCH THE LAST ELECTION.

WHAT WAS BROKEN WAS THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC.

WE HAD A HUGE ELECTION ON JANUARY 5th AND SOME 350,000 GEORGIANS DIDN'T COME BACK OUT TO VOTE.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM.

WE HAD TO MAKE CHANGES PERIODICALLY.

BEEN FOR AN A LONG TIME AND SOME BIGGER THAN OTHERS THAT MAKES CHANGES AND UPDATES OUR SYSTEM AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE.

WE NEVER HAD AN ELECTION DURING THE PANDEMIC IN RECENT HISTORY IN GEORGIA, SO IT BROUGHT TO LIGHT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AND THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS ONE OF THEM.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAD AUDITS THAT DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING, BOTH COUNTIES DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO SAY, I FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT WAS PART OF THE SYSTEM WORKING WELL.

WHEN WE PASSED A BILL TWO YEARS AGO AND THE DEMOCRATS 100% VOTED AGAINST THAT BILL LIKE THEY DID THE ONE WE PASSED TODAY, IT INSTITUTED THE AUDITS THAT WE HAVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD TALK OUT OF BOTH SIDES OF YOUR MOUTH SOME TIME AND WHEN THEY WOULD SAY THEY WERE OPPOSED TO WHAT WE DID THEN, THEY SAY THEY'RE OPPOSED TO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT THEY'RE REALLY OPPOSED TO.

OUR GOAL FOR REPUBLICANS WAS TO PASS A BILL TO HELP GEORGIANS FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEIR ELECTION SYSTEM AND I THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED THAT TODAY.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE UNIFORMITY VERSUS ALLOWING COUNTIES TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM?

>> WELL, IT IS A BALANCING ACT AND WE DO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT PROVISIONS IN HERE AND DIFFERENT CHOICES FOR COUNTIES TO MAKE.

BUT IT'S ALL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ONE ELECTION CODE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A DAY OF SUNDAY VOTING, YOU CAN DO THAT.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A DAY OF SUNDAY VOTING, YOU CAN CHOOSE A SATURDAY.

IF YOU'RE IN AN AREA YOU WANT TO GO 9 TO 5 FOR EARLY VOTING, YOU CAN DO THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO GO 7 TO 7 BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE METRO AREA AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC, YOU CAN DO THAT AS WELL.

SO IT STRIKES THAT PROPER BALANCE BETWEEN UNIFORMITY WITH SOME LOCAL FLEXIBILITY.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING PEOPLE CAN FEEL THERE ARE ACTUALLY MORE OPTIONS OUT THERE FOR SOME OF THESE COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS?

>> AS YOU HEARD PEOPLE SPEAKING ON THE FLOOR TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE BILL, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE EARLY VOTING HOURS ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL TODAY THAN THERE WAS IN THE LAST ELECTION.

>> DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU BELIEVE DROP BOXES WILL BE USED MORE OR LESS UNDER HB 531?

>> I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE A PANDEMIC NEXT 2022 ELECTION.

BUT USED THIS TIME.

THEY WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE A PART OF OUR SYSTEM BUT WE HAVE INCORPORATED SOME USE OF THEM IN THIS BILL.

THEY HAVE TO BE INSIDE THE EARLY VOTING PRECINCT WHERE THEY CAN BE MONITORED BY AN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL.

THERE WERE PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE DROP BOXES WERE DESTROYED.

IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, THEY CAN BECOME TARGETS FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THE ELECTIONS, SO WE THINK WE HAVE PUT THEM IN A SECURE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE PROPERLY USED.

>> EXPLAIN WHAT'S DIFFERENT WITHOUT A PRECINCT VOTING.

>> IN GEORGIA, WE NEVER HAD TOO BIG OF A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE VOTING IN THE WRONG PRECINCT.

YOU LOOK IN THE 2016 ELECTION WITH MAYBE 200 OR 300 PEOPLE.

IN THE 2020 ELECTION, WE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE VOTING OUT OF PRECINCT AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS WHEN YOU VOTE OUT OF PRECINCT, YOU DON'T GET THE VOTE FOR THE DOWN BALLOT RACES.

YOU DON'T GET TO VOTE FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER OR STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

IF WE DON'T GET THEM BACK INTO THE PRECINCT BECAUSE OF THE GLOWING TREND AND OUR GOAL TO HAVE EVERY PERSON'S VOTING COUNT.

>> EVENTUALLY, WILL WE BE HEADED TO A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OF SOME SORT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE SENATE HAS THEIR OWN SET OF ELECTIONS?

>> IT CERTAINLY IS POSSIBLE.

AFTER WE PASS A BILL NOW IN THE HOUSE THAT DEALS WITH MULTIPLE AREAS OF OUR ELECTION LAW AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE SENATE THINKS THEIR PRIORITIES ARE.

WE'LL GET TOGETHER AND WORK ON THAT, BUT JUST LIKE WE HAD IN THE PAST, WE'LL COME TOGETHER AND DO WHAT'S BEST.

>> YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THINGS AFTER TODAY?

>> I DO.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT BILL.

IT'S A GREAT BILL THAT INCREASES THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE IN GEORGIA, IT INCREASES THE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED AFTER THE LAST ELECTION.

>> ANY SURPRISES OUT OF WHAT YOU HEARD ON THE FLOOR TODAY?

>> IT SURPRISED ME A LITTLE BIT THAT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THE OPPONENTS OF THE BILL TALKING ABOUT THE BILL IN FRONT OF US.

EVEN SOME OF THE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WERE PASSED OUT BY THE OPPOSITION PARTY WERE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT WERE NOT IN OUR BILL TODAY.

IT MAKES YOU ALMOST THINK THEY DECIDED WHAT THEIR MESSAGE WOULD BE A LONG TIME AGO.

NO MATTER WHAT GOOD WE WERE DOING FOR GEORGIANS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, PROBABLY, OUT OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> WELL, I GIVE CREDIT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

HE KNEW THIS WOULD BE A HUGELY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

HE APPOINTED A SPECIAL COMMITTEE JUST TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE.

HE DOESN'T DO THAT VERY OFTEN.

HE GAVE ME VERY GOOD MEMBERS FROM THE HOUSE TO PUT ON THAT COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS IN HEARINGS WITH GEORGIANS LISTENING TO PEOPLE WITH DIFFERING OPINIONS AND COMING TO THE CONCLUSION WITH THE BILL THAT WAS A GOOD STEP GUARD.

>> WILL YOU SLEEP BETTER TONIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> COMING UP, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

DEMOCRATS AND STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE BILL FROM HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMES BEVERLY.

YOU'RE WATCHING "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

>> "LAWMAKERS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

OVER 80 YEARS OF HELPING EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AFTER ALL, AG IS GEORGIA'S NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY.

FOOD AND FIBER PRODUCTION REPRESENTS OVER $74 BILLION IN OUTPUT OF GEORGIA'S STRONG ECONOMY.

THE TEAM WORKS TO REPRESENT PRODUCERS ACROSS GEORGIA AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SESSION AND YEAR ROUND.

GEORGIA FARM BUREAU.

THE VOICE OF GEORGIA FARMERS.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

I'M DONNA LOWRY.

WE HEARD THE ELECTIONS AND INTEGRITY DISCUSS THE ELECTIONS BILL.

HB 531 THAT PASSED 97-72 THIS AFTERNOON.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE OBJECTIONS TO THE BILL, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, JAMES BEVERLY.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

SO LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

HOW DO YOU THINK TODAY WENT?

>> I'M TIRED, STARTED EARLY.

SO PROUD OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR CAUCUS.

VIGOROUS DEBATE OF THE CAUCUS POSITION, HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND SO EGREGIOUS THAT EVERY LAST ONE OF OUR CAUCUS MEMBERS COULD VOTE AGAINST IT.

WE TOOK A CAUCUS POSITION.

EVERYBODY HELD, SO THAT'S A GREAT THING.

IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT IT HAPPENS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

FIRST THING IS I'M A LITTLE TIRED BUT ALSO VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT OUR CAUCUS HELD TOGETHER.

THE BILL HAS SO MANY STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN SO I GUESS WE'LL JUMP INTO WHERE YOU WANT TO LEAD ME.

>> YOU TELL ME.

WHICH AREAS BOTHER YOU THE MOST?

>> THE FIRST THING IS THAT THAT HOUSE BILL 531 SHOULD SAY RESTRICT ACCESS AND LIMIT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO VOTE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT LINE FIVE AND 15 AND 20, 21, 25, 30, EACH ONE OF THESE TALK ABOUT OPENING WHAT THIS BILL DOES TO RESTRICT OR LIMIT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO VOTE.

SO MANY EGREGIOUS THINGS THIS DOES.

THE FIRST THING THAT LITERALLY COMES TO MIND, A STICKING POINT, IS ABOUT THE DROP BOXES.

THE DROP BOXES NOW HAVE TO BE LOCATED IN A PRECINCT AND SO YOU ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE PERIODS OF TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO TO A PRECINCT.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL VOTE IN THERE.

WHAT IT DID FOR ME, GEORGIANS, THIS TIME AROUND, IS THAT YOU COULD GO ANYTIME.

YOU COULD PUT YOUR MAIL IN THE DROP BOX.

WHAT THEY DID IN OTHER STATES, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN GEORGIA.

ALMOST A FALSE EQUIVALENCY.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS NOT EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

THE WAY IN WHICH YOU ACCESS ABSENTEE BALLOTS IS A PROBLEM AS WELL.

THERE WERE SO MANY STRUCTURAL THINGS THAT WERE WRONG WITH THE BILL THAT WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD JUST BE NOT PRUDE TO TAKE THE CAUCUS POSITION AGAINST IT AND THEN SEE WHERE IT GOES.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THINGS WHERE YOU TALKED TODAY ABOUT FEELING LIKE YOU WEREN'T HEARD AT ALL.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED ON THE FLOOR TODAY.

SILENCE, YOU FELT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE A BILL, THE CHAIRMAN TAKES A LITTLE BIT LIBERTY WITH SOME THINGS BUT CONTINUES TO CHANGE.

THE FIRST TIME IT CAME OUT, IT DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE TO GET ON THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY VOTE SO IT WAS A SMALL BILL.

30 SOME ODD PAGES AND THEN WENT TO 45 PAGES AND THEN 50 PAGES AND THEN 66.

SO WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR TALKING POINTS ARE, YOU CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE GOAL POST.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE A HEALTHY DEBATE AROUND THE BILL AND EVERY TIME OUR MEMBERS WOULD COME INTO THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE, THEY WOULD FIND A NEW RENDITION OF THE BILL.

A NEW VERSION.

AND SO THAT MADE IT, THAT'S WHY I SAY THE COMMENTS ARE A BIT DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE WE HAD TO CONTINUE TO REACT AS THE GOAL POST MOVES.

>> FELT LIKE YOU WERE CONSTANTLY CATCHING UP.

>> ALWAYS.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> IN THIS SPACE, THE HAWKS OPENED UP THE ARENA.

THE FALCONS OPENED UP THEIR ARENA.

YOU HAD MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES JUST GIVING OUT WATER AND THINGS.

GRANTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE COULD VOTE OR HAD ACCESS BECAUSE THE LINES ARE SO LONG.

A LOT OF THAT STUFF GOING ON, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT'S GOING TO GO AWAY WITH THIS BILL.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT AT ALL AS THIS BILL GOES THROUGH.

WE KNOW IT GOES TO THE SENATE NOW.

THE SENATE HAS ITS OWN VERSION AND WE LEARNED TODAY IT'S OUT OF COMMITTEE.

SB 241 PASSED THIS AFTERNOON AFTER EVERYTHING ELSE.

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> THE NO EXCUSE VOTING IS EGREGIOUS UNLESS YOU'RE OVER 65 YEARS OLD AND I THINK YOU'RE DISABLED, ONE OF SEVEN THINGS YOU HAVE TO BE WITHIN THAT BILL.

BUT THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE DURING THIS PANDEMIC WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE.

IT WAS GREAT FOR US IN THIS MOMENT.

WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THAT BACK?

WHY CLAW THAT BACK, SO THAT'S A BILL PROBLEM.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE SEVEN DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO VOTE ABSENTEE.

YEAH, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHERE YOU'RE LIKE, ARE Y'ALL KIDDING ME?

IS THIS REALLY ACTUALLY HAPPENING?

IT IS HAPPENING.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST FAIR AND SQUARE AND NOW YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE RULES.

AND IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE YOU WOULD TRY TO DO THAT IN 2021.

SO YES, THE BILL WOULD GO INTO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND THEN WE HOPE DEMOCRATS WOULD BE IN THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SO THEY DON'T MAKE BACK ROOM DEALS LIKE THEY DID ON THE FIRST PART OF THIS AND WE'RE NONE THE WISER WHEN THE BILL COMES OUT.

>> HOW TO RESPOND IN REPUBLICANS IN 2018 AFTER THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS, THERE WERE DEMOCRATS WHO WANTED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN ELECTION?

>> IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION, THE TWO ELECTION BILLS, THE MAJOR ONES, WHICH TODAY, IT WAS 316 BACK THEN AND THE CHAIRMAN NOW, REPRESENTATIVE FLEMING WAS THE GUY WHO LED THAT CHARGE AND NOW YOU'RE RIGHT BACK AT IT.

SO THERE'S A PATTERN OF JUST, LIKE, DISENFRANCHISEMENT AROUND THE IDEA OF VOTING.

WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE.

INSTEAD OF SAYING YOU VOTE IN ONE PRECINCT, IF YOU DON'T VOTE IN THIS PRECINCT, THEN YOUR VOTE DOESN'T COUNT, WHY NOT VOTE ANYWHERE IN YOUR COUNTY?

WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE YOUR PRECINCT IS AND VOTE IN YOUR COUNTY AND ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO ACCESS THE SYSTEM AND GET A BETTER RESULT FOR WHERE WE ARE.

>> SOMEBODY ACTUALLY HAD A BILL FOR THAT.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

REPRESENTATIVE ROGER, I THINK.

>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW.

I HAVE TO ASK, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT DEMOCRATS ARE TAKING A HARD LINE, THAT YOU ARE WITHHOLDING VOTES ON OTHER BILLS.

ONE OF THEM, THE GAMBLING BILL.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> SO IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THE INSIDE TRADE THAT HAPPENS UP AT THE CAPITOL IS DIFFERENT.

WE ARE SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT, WHERE DO WE HAVE LEVERAGE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AROUND ISSUES THAT IMPACT GEORGIANS?

SO THE GAMBIT, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT STANDS ON ITS OWN.

I THINK THE MEMBERS VOTE THEIR CONSCIENCE ON THAT BILL.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN THIS MOMENT, HOW CAN WE HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION WITH ANY THAT WE HAVE AND I GIVE THE SPEAKER CREDIT.

WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDING TIME, HE AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ON FRIDAY TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO TALK ABOUT, LET'S EXTEND TIME AND TO HIS CREDIT, HE DID.

SO THAT EVERY MEMBER COULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, BUT THAT COMES WITH, OKAY, WHEN HE COMES BACK TO SAY, HEY, LISTEN, JAMES, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS BUT AS FAR AS HOLDING A BILL BACK TO GET ONE DONE, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT WITH THE GAMBLING BILL.

I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT, THE GAMBLING HAVE TO STAND ON ITS OWN.

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD BACK VOTES.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NOT VOTE OR RECOMMEND NOT VOTING ON THE GAMBLING BILL.

ANY OTHER BILL?

>> SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS YEW GOING TO FIND IN THIS MOMENT IS THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE, ARE WE GOING TO RESTORE THE CUTS TO EDUCATION?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT?

I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE A DIFFERENT DEBATE.

I MEAN, THE VOTING HAS TAKEN ALL THE AIR OUT OF THE ROOM BUT THE REALITY IS YOU'VE GOT 400,000 OR 500,000 GEORGIANS WITH PREEXISTING CONDITION FOR COVID AND MEDICAID EXPANSION NOT HAPPENED YET.

PEOPLE WHO LOST THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND THEN CIVIL LIBERIES AT STAKE RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTRICTING ACCESS TO VOTING.

I WANT TO JUST CHANGE THE NARRATIVE A LITTLE BIT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT GEORGIA LOOKS LIKE WITH A HEALTHY AGENDA, GEORGIA UNITED.

THAT'S WHAT WE FOCUS ON THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE SESSION.

>> I KNOW YOU TALKED TO SOME OF THE PROTESTERS TODAY.

WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM NOW AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?

>> YOU KNOW, THE PROTESTERS ARE FINE ON BOTH SIDES.

THAT'S A PART OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACIES, PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST FOR RIGHTS.

THERE'S A SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, I CALL THE PEOPLE WHO PROTEST SOMETIMES CULTURAL BANDITS.

SO A BANDIT IS SOMEONE COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE WITH GREAT ZEAL AND TO BE A CULTURAL BANDIT TO ME IS A REALLY GOOD THING BECAUSE YOU'RE COMMITTED TO THIS CULTURE IN A PARTICULAR WAY AND THE PREACHER TODAY SAID LIVE A LIFE IN A WAY TO SHIFT THE CULTURE TO BENEFIT EVERYONE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS SPOT ON AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THIS MOMENT.

HOW DO WE SWITCH THE CULTURE?

SO THAT WE'RE NOW ALL GEORGIANS HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER, NOT WORSE.

HOW DO WE MAKE PEOPLE INCENTIVIZE THE SYSTEM AND NOT DETERRED BY IT?

SO THOSE FOLK OUT THERE WHO ARE PROTESTING TODAY, IT WAS GREAT TO JUST SEE THE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE.

I'M GETTING A LITTLE OLDER NOW, SO I CAN'T BE OUT THERE TOO LONG BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE AND ON BOTH SIDES AND I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD FOR US TO HAVE HONEST CONVERSATIONS IN PUBLIC, IN A PUBLIC SPACE SO THAT WE ALL SORT OF LEVEL SET IN THE WAY WE CAN BENEFIT.

>> NOW NEGOTIATIONS TAKE PLACE.

WHERE DO YOU AND THE ALL OF THIS TO WIND UP?

>> I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

LISTEN, I WAS ENCOURAGED BY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW ELECTIONS BECAUSE NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE BALLOT BOX AND SEE IT IN THE POLLS.

SO WE'LL SEE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO STEP BACK.

LET'S HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ON WHAT TO DO TO MAKE SURE VOTING IS SAFE.

THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD, WIDESPREAD FRAUD.

LET'S GET TOGETHER IN A VERY REAL MEANINGFUL WAY.

NOT BEHIND BACK DOORS, GIVING BILLS LAST MINUTE TRIAGE.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "LAWMAKERS."

"LAWMAKERS" WILL NOT CONVENE TOMORROW, BUT HAVE A COMMITTEE WORKDAY AND WE'LL RETURN WEDNESDAY FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY 26.

GOOD NIGHT.