Primary Day 2022 has finally arrived. The political fates of Democratic and Republican contenders vying for their party’s nomination in key races across the state could be decided over the next 24 hours. The eyes of the nation are on Georgia today because the newly established battleground state could tip the balance of power in […]
Politics & Policy
Posted inElections
We’re Talking to Black Voters at the Polls. Here’s What They’re Telling Us.
This story has been updated. It’s no secret the Black vote will have huge implications for the 2022 election cycle in Georgia. Despite new election laws that create more challenges for casting ballots, early voting numbers so far have show Black turnout has been triple what it was in 2018. On this Primary Day, we […]
Posted inVoting
Political Reporter’s Notebook: Record-high early voting, Atlanta bids to host 2024 DNC
The final countdown is underway! Primary election day takes place on Tuesday, May 24. The state has seen a major spike in early voting this election cycle and it’s ignited a debate about Black voter suppression. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is pushing for the city to host the Democratic National Convention in 2024. Dickens also […]
Posted inVoting
Record-high early voting turnout leads to debate over voter suppression
This story has been updated. Voting rights activists are celebrating record-high turnout for early voting this primary election season and pushing back against Republican operatives who argue that the influx of ballots disproves their concerns about voter suppression. More than 700,000 people have voted early as of Thursday, according to the Georgia secretary of state’s […]
Posted inCity Politics
‘Your Chance to Be Heard’: What You Need to Know About Atlanta’s Budget
It’s that time of year again! One of the most critical endeavors local government leaders engage in — finalizing the annual city budget — is about to begin. If you live inside the perimeter, it’s a process that can have a major impact on your quality of life. Atlanta’s fiscal year 2023 city budget is […]
Posted inState Politics
‘It’s Going to Be a Travesty’: Why Georgia’s New Gun Law Is Troubling for Black Residents
Georgia Second Amendment advocates have been celebrating for the past week. On April 12, Gov. Brian Kemp signed SB 319 — dubbed by supporters as the Constitutional Carry Act — into law. The measure, which took effect immediately, makes it legal for a “lawful weapons carrier” to carry concealed handguns without a permit anywhere that […]
Posted inState Politics
Black Voters Should Know About These Bills GA Legislators Passed in Their Last Votes of 2022
Georgia lawmakers worked through midnight early Tuesday to get a set of bills passed on Sine Die, the last day of the state’s 40-day legislative session. Several of the General Assembly’s most contentious proposed laws – including a measure giving the Georgia Bureau of Investigation greater authority to oversee elections – were passed by both […]
Posted inVoting
What Black Voters Should Know Ahead of Election Season in Georgia
Record turnout from Black Georgia voters in the 2020 elections and January 2021 runoffs helped secure a win for President Joe Biden and two Democratic U.S. Senate seats. The numbers — 4.9 million votes cast in the presidential election alone — are even more impressive when you consider the challenges voters experienced in 2020: hours-long […]
Posted inVoting
Georgia’s New Voting Law Makes it Harder to Register Black Voters
Getting Black Georgians registered to vote was already a daunting task for some local advocacy groups before state GOP lawmakers passed a law making it harder for many folks to cast their ballots. The full effects of Georgia’s Senate Bill 202 — the controversial Election Integrity Act of 2021 that Gov. Brian Kemp signed into […]
Posted inCity Politics
Black Leaders React to Dickens’ Crime Plan
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ recently unveiled plan to ramp up policing in an effort to crack down on crime is getting a stamp of approval from some of the city’s most prominent Black leaders. Less than two years after the controversial Atlanta Police killing of Rayshard Brooks, local Black politicians and civil rights leaders say […]