When medical student Jennifer Jones showed up for the pre-vote in Atlanta, she was shocked.
Electoral officials told her she had been removed from the census because someone raised doubts that she had the right to vote.
– It was simply impossible for me to vote. I don’t know who appealed to my voting rights, or why, Jones told TV 2.
resourceful
Jones comes from a resourceful family that has fought for black rights for generations. His grandmother attended, among other things, the Martin Luther King demonstrations in Georgia in the 1960s.
ASK FOR HELP: Jennifer Jones asked for help from one of the organizations fighting for voter rights in Georgia when she was barred from voting. Photo: Frode Hoff / TV 2
Instead of giving up, the 31-year-old then contacted one of the organizations now fighting for voter rights in Georgia, and within days her right to vote was back in effect.
However, she is outraged by what she has experienced and fears that many others will not be able to vote in the congressional elections on November 8.
– I almost feel like we’re back in the days before blacks had the right to vote in this country, says Jones.
New laws
The new election rules in Georgia stem from Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 presidential election was characterized by fraud.
So far, Republicans in at least 19 US states have made it more difficult for people to vote. Among other things, from the fact that fewer polling stations are available, that the possibility of voting early has been limited or, as in Georgia, that anyone and everyone can contest the number of people.
Civil rights veteran Helen Butler, who helped Jones get the vote, is highly critical of the restrictions.
VETERAN: Helen Butler has been active in the civil rights field in Georgia for over 50 years and currently heads the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda. Photo: Frode Hoff / TV 2
– The real reason politicians do this is to have the edge on their side, so they can win. They are pushing away enough voters to win, Butler tells TV 2.
Discriminate blacks
James Williams, who is the union leader of some 60,000 workers in Atlanta, believes there is now an organized effort by Republicans to eliminate voters from the census.
FIGHT FOR RIGHTS. New laws have made it more difficult for many to vote in Georgia. Photo: Jonathan Ernst / NTB.
– They see counties where Democrats are strong and are in favor of eliminating as many voters as possible. Just to make voting difficult, Williams tells TV 2.
African Americans, who are much more likely to vote for Democrats, feel more vulnerable this way.
– I feel like we’re going back in time. It’s a shame that this ugly side of America is now reemerging. But it’s also good that it comes to light, so that people can see what’s going on, says Jennifer Jones.
Trump on the warpath
Ted Terry is the vice president of the Democratic Party of Georgia. Like many others, he is very concerned about what will happen in the days surrounding the election.
CONCERNED: Democratic Party Vice President of Georgia, Ted Terry, is concerned about what might happen around the election. Photo: Frode Hoff / TV 2
He received suggestions that Trump’s attorneys and supporter of former President Steve Bannon have specific plans to contest the election results in Atlanta.
– One of Trump’s lawyers came out and asked for volunteers who can go to DeKalb County and stop people without citizenship from voting. They are encouraged to appeal to the addresses of people in the census and to signatures on ballot papers, Terry tells TV 2.
Terry helped organize several elections for mayor in the suburb of Clarkston and says it is completely unthinkable that people who are not citizens can vote.
EXCITED: Many expect there may be conflicts when the vote count for the US Congressional election begins. Photo: Frode Hoff / TV 2
The situation before the congressional elections is tense and many expect there will be conflicts when the votes are counted later.
Jones still believes it is important that as many people as possible show up and exercise their right to vote.
– My advice to people is not to feel threatened by those who try to stop them from voting. Because that’s what they really want: to make us afraid and insecure.
