The early numbers are in and it appears Georgia, on its first day of early voting in the midterm elections, had a record turnout. For most, this is a positive sign that more Americans are becoming engaged in the political process. But for others, it’s not such great news as it might signal that one of their most cherished narratives is about to collapse like a house of cards. We’re talking about the voter suppression myth.
In light of this development, it might be appropriate to take a brisk stroll down memory lane back to last year when Georgia, along with other red states, passed election integrity laws. You might recall how Democrats and their comrades in the activist media shrieked like drunken banshees about how these new measures will somehow prevent black voters from showing up to the polls.
Folks like Stacey Abrams went on and on about how the legislation would disenfranchise African Americans. President Joe Biden lent his voice to the chorus of voices claiming this was “Jim Crow 2.0.” But if these early numbers are any indication, the left will have to figure out how to continue spreading this falsehood after November.
Georgians Show Up in Record Numbers
As of October 18, over 131,000 voters in the Peach State cast their ballots during the early voting period. This marks a whopping 85% increase over the turnout during 2018’s midterm elections.
Georgia’s secretary of state’s office reported:
“Statewide, reports of long lines were minimal, though there were some reports of voters waiting in line for more than 30 minutes from a few popular voting locations in metro areas. Early voting turnout is expected to increase during the final week of early voting, and all Georgia counties will have an Early Voting Saturday this upcoming Saturday, October 22nd. To find early voting locations and hours in your county, visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.”
According to the website, 70,849 residents voted on the same date in 2018. In 2020, 136,739 showed up to the polls. If this trend continues, it will be abundantly clear that Georgia’s new laws are not a form of Jim Crow 2.0 as Democrats predicted.
What’s Next for the Voter Suppression Narrative?
If this trend goes on in Georgia, it will pose quite a problem for Democrats, who insist that election integrity laws make it harder for people to vote. The dilemma will be even more pronounced if and when it is revealed that black voters showed up in high numbers.
However, even this might not move Democrats to reconsider this line of messaging. As they have done in the past, they will simply insist that the laws failed to prevent people from voting. Democrats will wave these numbers off as an exception to the rule. Indeed, Abrams is already priming the public for this narrative. In footage being disseminated on social media, the gubernatorial candidate made this very argument. She said:
“We are here today because we are about to make history. In 20 days, we are changing Georgia. Let’s get it done. Thank you all so much for being here. Yesterday was amazing. And I’m not talking about the debate. That was good, too. But yesterday we saw record turnout for early voting. Yes, we should be excited, but let’s remember what that means. It does not mean that voter suppression doesn’t exist. That’s like saying that there are no more sharks in the water because more people get in. We know that voter suppression is alive and well in Georgia, but we’re stronger, we’re faster, and we’re better than it. And we are going to bring it. And we’re going to win this election.”
STACEY ABRAMS: “Yesterday, we saw record turnout for early voting. Yes, we should be excited. But let’s remember what that means—it does not mean voter suppression does not exist.”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 20, 2022
There you have it, folks. This will be the talking point that Democrats and members of the activist media will use to persuade the public to believe that voter suppression is still rampant in red states. But will it work?
Will the Voter Suppression Talking Points Survive?
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Higher voter turnout – especially among African Americans – would create quite a problem for Democrats. Sure, it might help their chances of winning in Georgia. But a Republican victory with more people showing up at the polls could do devastating damage to their political standing while dealing a knockout blow to the voter suppression narrative.
Indeed, it will place Democrats in a position where they have no other recourse but to repeat the talking point expressed by Abrams earlier. But the numbers do not lie.
The voter suppression illusion will be in even more peril if red states see a similar turnout as the Peach State. If there are more votes in places where legislatures passed election integrity laws, it will be the final nail in the coffin. Democrats will likely pull away from these arguments just as they did with the “Voter ID Laws Are Racist” trope. Nevertheless, we can still count on the left to concoct a new race baiting motif to replace the old one.