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Subcommittee amends and advances bill letting municipalities decide Saturday early‑voting schedules
Summary
House Bill 397 would let municipalities choose whether to hold Saturday early voting. After public testimony raising access concerns, the subcommittee amended the measure to make Saturday voting mandatory unless a municipality explicitly opts out, then approved the bill as amended.
Representative Tim Fleming presented House Bill 397, a substitute intending to give municipalities options about Saturday early‑voting dates. Fleming said the bill would give smaller municipalities flexibility to avoid paying for Saturdays when few voters show up. “It is giving each local municipality the option. They can have one Saturday voting, they can have two Saturday votings, or if they don't think they need to have a Saturday voting, they can do that as well,” Fleming told the subcommittee.
Committee members and multiple public witnesses questioned whether removing a Saturday requirement could reduce voting access. Lana Goitia Paz of All Voting Is Local said Saturday voting is “one of the only chances folks get to have their voices heard” for people who work during the week. Rachel Lastinger of the ACLU of Georgia and Cindy Battles of the People's Agenda also opposed allowing municipalities to eliminate Saturdays, citing potential voter confusion and outreach burdens when adjacent jurisdictions follow different schedules.
Several legislators raised the financial strain municipal elections can place on small jurisdictions. Cindy Battles presented county cost figures and argued that the state should fund election requirements rather than reduce access. Supporters — including Representative Gullett and several municipal officials — argued the bill relieves an unfunded local mandate and that no‑excuse absentee voting and multiple days of advance voting already offer alternatives.
After debate, Representative Alalie moved an amendment to switch the bill from an opt‑in structure to an opt‑out structure (deleting a “not” and the word “any” in the draft). Legislative counsel confirmed the change would make Saturdays part of municipal early voting unless a municipality chose otherwise. The committee approved that amendment and then voted to advance the bill as amended to full committee.
Votes at a glance: Committee approved amendment to change the bill to an opt‑out model and voted to advance HB 397 as amended to full committee.
