The Justice Department has officially dropped its legal challenge to Georgia’s election law, known as SB 202, which was passed by Republican lawmakers in 2021. The move, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, marks a significant shift from the Biden administration’s earlier stance on the law, which it had argued would disproportionately suppress the voting rights of Black Americans.
Justice Department dismisses lawsuit against Georgia election lawhttps://t.co/9A1M2objdx pic.twitter.com/U4jMF9iip1
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 1, 2025
Georgia's Election law: A Shift in Legal Strategy
Attorney General Bondi’s decision to instruct the Justice Department to dismiss the lawsuit comes after an extensive legal battle, ignited by the law’s passage in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Critics of SB 202, including civil rights organizations and voting rights advocates, have argued that it disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly Black voters, by imposing stricter voter ID requirements for mail-in ballots, reducing early voting options, and limiting the number of drop boxes for ballots in urban areas.
The Biden administration initially sued Georgia, asserting that the law violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and would disenfranchise voters of color.
However, Bondi defended the law, calling it a necessary set of “commonsense reforms” to ensure election integrity. She emphasized that the claims of voter suppression were “false” and politically motivated, stating, “Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us.”
Backlash and Support
The Justice Department’s decision has sparked a range of reactions. Georgia Republican officials, including Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who were previously at odds with former President Trump over the 2020 election results, celebrated the dismissal as a win for election security.
Kemp emphasized that the law was designed to ensure fairness, stating, “Georgia is one of the top states in the country for early voting and experienced record voter turnout in multiple elections since the passage of the Elections Integrity Act.”
On the other hand, voting rights groups such as Fair Fight Action, led by Stacey Abrams, have strongly condemned the dismissal.
Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO of Fair Fight, argued that the law has made it more difficult for many Georgians to vote, particularly in Black and Democratic-leaning communities.
She stressed that the decision to drop the lawsuit does not change the fundamental impact of the law on voter access.
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Voter Turnout Data: Mixed Evidence
Despite the heated political rhetoric surrounding SB 202, data on its effects remains mixed. Supporters of the law point to increased voter turnout in Georgia, particularly among Black voters, as evidence that the law does not suppress participation.
A report by the Brennan Center for Justice noted that while Black voter turnout increased in the 2024 election, it still fell short of keeping pace with Georgia’s overall population growth, suggesting that the law may still have some impact on voter engagement.
However, critics argue that the restrictions imposed by SB 202—such as the reduction of ballot drop boxes and the ban on distributing food and water to voters in line—continue to disproportionately affect those in urban areas, where many Black voters reside.
The law’s provisions on absentee voting and its potential to create logistical hurdles for older and disabled voters remain points of contention.
Legal and Political Fallout
This development adds to the ongoing national debate over voting rights, particularly Georgia’s Election laws have become a focal point in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential race.
While some argue that tightening election laws is necessary to safeguard against fraud, others view such measures as a means of suppressing the vote, particularly among communities of color.
The Trump administration’s backing of more restrictive voting rules, which has included executive orders targeting mail-in voting, has also stirred controversy, with many viewing these efforts as part of a broader political agenda to limit access to the polls in key swing states. Despite the political divide, the legal battle surrounding Georgia’s election law is likely to continue, with other lawsuits and challenges still in play.