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Heated second hearing on SB 4: proponents cite consistency and reporting; opponents warn of overreach and forum shopping
Summary
Proponents urged codifying an Election Integrity Unit with reporting and a referral pathway to prosecutors; opponents including county prosecutors, the League of Women Voters and local residents argued SB 4 lowers evidentiary standards, centralizes power in partisan statewide offices, risks 'forum shopping' by transferring declined cases to the Attorney General, and could chill voters and volunteers.
Chair Ray called Senate Bill 4 for a second hearing. Beau Uton (FGA Action) and Chad Ennis (Honest Election Project Action) testified in support, saying SB 4 would codify an election integrity unit in the Secretary of State's office, require review of citizen complaints, and produce annual reports on investigations and outcomes. Proponents characterized the unit as a continuity measure so election oversight would not depend on who holds statewide office.
Chad Ennis described the bill’s prosecution pathway: the unit would refer alleged…
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