The vast economic crisis has left scores of Georgia's houses empty, its banks shuttered and sent thousands of its residents searching for jobs even as its unemployment rate balloons to heights not seen since Ronald Reagan was president.
The nationwide recession was the top Georgia news story of 2008, according to state editors and news directors voting in The Associated Press' annual survey.
Other stories high on most lists included an energy crisis that sent gas prices on a roller-coaster ride, the U.S. Senate runoff that thwarted Democratic plans for a super-majority in the Senate and the months-long trial of courthouse gunman Brian Nichols.
Yet the economic doldrums was the top choice for seven of 12 Georgia AP members participating in the news cooperative's survey.
Georgia residents began feeling the economic fallout early this year as a growing number of homes remained unsold and credit grew tighter. Firms fired workers, governments furloughed staffers, foreclosures spiked and the state unemployment rate soared to 7.5 percent - the highest in 25 years.
The bleak economy forced regulators to close down five state banks, and led Gov. Sonny Perdue to order spending cuts of at least 6 percent to narrow a deficit that could top $2 billion in 2009.
The new year is unlikely to bring much relief. State economists warn unemployment will climb higher and housing prices will continue to plummet through the first half of 2009.
Volatile energy prices were the No. 2 story of the year. The topsy-turvy fuel market sent the price of crude soaring to as high as $150 a barrel in July before crashing to $33 this month.
The jump in prices, which soared after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike shuttered Gulf Coast refineries, sparked panic among Georgia drivers. Gas stations advertised fuel at $8 a gallon, while some drivers camped out at gas stations to be first in line for new deliveries.
Georgia's seemingly endless U.S. Senate campaign notched the No. 3 spot.
Residents headed to the polls four times to vote on the Senate contest, beginning with the July primaries and ending with a Dec. 2 runoff when Saxby Chambliss was elected to a second Senate term. The Republican's victory over Jim Martin deprived Democrats of a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority.
The conviction and sentencing of Brian Nichols for a deadly shooting spree that began in the Fulton County Courthouse was the year's No. 4 story.
After more than three years and a tangled trail of legal delays, a jury found Nichols guilty of murder. But it deadlocked over whether he deserves the death penalty, forcing a judge to sentence him to life in prison without parole. Now some legislators are intent on changing the state's death penalty rules.
The stubborn drought still squeezing parts of the state emerged as the No. 5 story of the year. While a soggy December helped elevate most of the region from the epic conditions, much of north Georgia - including devastated Lake Lanier - remains in a "severe" drought.
The No. 6 story was the deadly explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in February near Savannah that killed 14 workers and injured dozens more. Investigators determined the blast was caused by sugar dust that ignited like gunpowder in the plant's storage silos.
The presidential election, which dominated national headlines, was voted the No. 7 story in Georgia. Democrat Barack Obama's campaign recruited thousands of volunteers focused on turning the state blue, but Republican John McCain managed to claim Georgia's 15 electoral votes.
The No. 8 story of the year broke just hours after New Year's Day.
Meredith Emerson was abducted while walking with her dog that day in the north Georgia mountains, and police later found her body. Authorities soon arrested Gary Michael Hilton, who is now serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to her murder.
The Delta Air Lines merger with Northwest Airlines took the No. 9 slot, as the combination made the Atlanta-based carrier the world's largest airline. It completed a remarkable turnaround for Delta, which had filed for bankruptcy in 2005.
Clayton County's education woes was the year's tenth-ranked story. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked the county's accreditation after it failed to meet a range of recommendations. More than 3,200 students have since bolted.
Stories close to making the list included convicted murderer Troy Davis' efforts to get a new trial and avoid execution, a legislative session that again ended in gridlock and an explosion at a Dalton law firm that killed the person responsible and injured four others.
(AP)
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Dire economy led Georgia news in '08
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Voters flock to polls in Muscogee Co.
Muscogee Co. residents waiting to vote at the Columbus Public Library, September, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Columbus and Muscogee County voting officials report a high turnout in absentee ballots and early voting for Tuesday’s Senate runoff. Dave Bender reports.
Nancy Boren, director of Elections and Registration says the over 9,000 ballots her Columbus office has received since Monday is, in her words, “exceptional:”
"I think the biggest portion of it is you have all of the automatic ballots that we have to mail out anyway: all of the military, the elderly, and those that are disabled. The other reason is the mailer that was sent by the governor that enabled people to fill out the application for the absent ballot and receive it in their home with the holiday approaching – it just makes it an easy way to vote.”
Both parties have brought a bevy of national political heavyweights to Georgia to stump in the closely held race.
Voter turnout in runoff races is usually poor, but Boren says she expects to see higher than usual numbers this time.
Click here for more GPB News coverage of the runoff race.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Romney ties Martin, Democrats to socialism
Senate candidate Jim Martin with former President Bill Clinton at Clark Atlanta University on Thursday; former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney with Republican incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss at a rally in Atlanta on Friday. (Photos: John Bazemore /AP)
Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lent his support to Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Friday, warning that a victory by the Democratic challenger in next month’s hotly contested runoff could be the first step toward a European brand of socialism.
Romney is the latest in a parade of GOP bigwigs who have flocked to the state in the weeks before the Dec. 2 runoff between Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin. Romney’s criticism is not unlike the line of attack Sen. John McCain used unsuccessfully against Democrat Barack Obama in the campaign for president.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, told a crowd of about 200 cheering supporters that the general election showed that people wanted change in Washington. But the Georgia runoff, he said, could alter the very nature of the country.
"This election is about whether we want to change America. And I want to keep America America," he said to applause.
"I think in this race you have two different men who have two different views. One would take America down the course of becoming like Europe, big taxes and big government," said Romney. Chambliss, he said, "fundamentally believes in keeping America strong and safe and free."In a brief news conference after the speech, Romney added: "I want to make sure we don’t take a left turn toward Europe."
Martin, a former state legislator, dismissed the ideological labels and stressed his record of bipartisan cooperation.
"I was one of the most effective members of the state House. I worked across party lines, and I’m going to continue to do that in Washington," he said after appearing at a campaign office in Decatur. "I’ve been a person who has always worked to try to solve the problems people face."The Georgia race, one of two unresolved Senate races, has taken on national significance. The other is in Minnesota, where a re-count will help determine whether Republican Sen. Norm Coleman or Democrat Al Franken is the winner.
Victories in both races would give Democrats the 60 seats needed to fend off Republican filibusters.
The stakes are high, and both parties have rolled out their political heavyweights. McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee both stumped for Chambliss last week, and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear next week.
Former President Bill Clinton led a rally for Martin on Thursday and Clinton’s vice president, Al Gore, is set to appear Sunday. About 100 Obama field operatives have been helping boost turnout, and the president-elect recently recorded a radio ad supporting Martin’s campaign.
The national focus has helped the candidates fill their campaign coffers.
Chambliss raised about $1.9 million between Oct. 16 and Nov. 12, and has $1.4 million cash on hand remaining. Martin raised $2.4 million over the same time period, and has more than $600,000 left in the campaign bank.
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
(AP)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sec'y of State's Office: runoff turnout a wildcard
Muscogee Co. voters waiting at the Columbus Public Library to cast their ballot in the previous round of early voting. (Dave Bender/file)
Early voting for the December 2nd runoff election began today in Fulton Co., a day after polling stations opened across much of Georgia.
Fulton had ballot counting issues in the November fourth elections. Counties must start early voting as soon as their ballots are printed, have until Wednesday to open stations.
Fulton Co. elections officials were unavailable for comment.
Voters are casting ballots for the U.S. Senate race, Georgia State Appeals Court and the Public Service Commission's District 4.
Matt Carrothers with the Secretary of State's office says it's tough to predict turnout numbers in this runoff:
“Historically, turnout is lower in a runoff election. However, this is a unique situation with being in both a presidential election year, and with a us senate race, two other statewide races – we could have higher than usual [turnout].”Click here for more GPB News coverage of the state races.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Early voting for runoff races begins
Muscogee County voters during early elections at the Columbus Public Library. (Dave Bender/file)
Voters in most
At the top of the list is the hotly-contested
Former presidential candidate John McCain and other senior Republican leaders have come out for Chambliss.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee addressed voters in
Former President Bill Clinton is set to arrive for a Martin rally on Wednesday.
Also in the offing are races for the
Early voting in 
Fulton County voters go to the polls in the previous round of early voting. (Dave Bender/file)
Both Chambliss and Martin are looking for new ways to coax weary Georgia voters back to the polls next month in one of the nation's most hotly contested Senate races.
Click here for more GPB election coverage.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Huckabee touts Chambliss, 'Fair Tax'
Former Arkansas Governor and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee makes a point to the crowd about the Fair Tax as Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss, his wife Julianne and Fair Tax officials look on, during a rally at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga., Nov. 16, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on Sunday backed Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss in the December second runoff against Democrat Jim Martin.
Speaking after a heavily attended rally at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Huckabee says the race's outcome will influence the effect the Republican Party will have on the nation:
“This man stands for the things that, not only Georgians stand for, but most of America, really, stands for. We lose this vote, and we lose the capacity to really stand firm on those issues. This is a critical election for all of us around America who care deeply about things that are important to Georgians.”Some 2,000 fervent Chambliss and the Fair Tax supporters packed the hall.
Seventh District Congressman John Linder, Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine and Fair Tax supporter Neal Boortz also spoke at the rally.
The proposal would eliminate income tax and the Internal Revenue Service, and put in place a national sales tax instead.
Former President Bill Clinton is due to headline a rally for Martin this coming Wednesday.
Early voting for the race begins Monday.
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Chambliss, Martin rev up for runoff
Republican incumbent Senator Saxby Chamblis and Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin and at the GPBTV pre-election debate. (Dave Bender/file)
Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin were in full campaign mode this weekend, trying to coax enough votes to prevail in a Dec. 2 runoff election.
Republican incumbent Senator Saxby Chamblis talking with reporters at a press conference held at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. (Dave Bender/file)
Chambliss’ camp is preparing for a visit from former GOP presidential candidate John McCain. Martin is meeting with Cobb County Democrats and planned to visit a party phone bank operation in Decatur.
Democratic Senate race candidate Jim Martin, talking to reporters at a press conference in downtown Atlanta. (Dave Bender/file)
With less than four weeks until they face voters again, neither campaign was waiting for Secretary of State Karen Handel to make it official when she certifies election results next week.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting throughout Georgia, neither Chambliss nor Martin accumulated enough ballots to pull above the needed 50 percent plus one of the vote. The Moultrie Republican is just short, with 49.8 percent. Martin, a former state lawmaker from Atlanta, has 46.8 percent. The race also included Libertarian Allen Buckley, who drew 3.4 percent.
Military and overseas ballots were among the last to be tallied by county officials. To be counted, they had to arrive by Friday.
The state’s most populous county had been set to certify its results Saturday. But a spokesman for Fulton County’s Board of Elections said problems with a faulty memory card delayed the effort.
Voters register to cast their ballot in advance voting at the Fulton Co. Government Center polling station in downtown Atlanta. (Dave Bender)
Fulton County Board of Elections spokesman Mark Henderson said the problem had been resolved but officials decided to audit the process before making the elections results official. The certification is now expected to take place Sunday or Monday, Henderson said.
Handel’s office has criticized Fulton County for being slow to count thousands of absentee ballots and her office is investigating. Henderson said county workers were exhausted after a marathon Election Day and were sent home for a few hours to rest.
The expected Chambliss-Martin contest is already drawing a national spotlight to Georgia.
The race is one of three unresolved Senate contests nationwide, along with Minnesota and Alaska. All involve Republican incumbents. If Democrats capture all three, it would give them a 60-seat majority in the Senate, a margin needed to block Republican filibusters.
Chambliss’ campaign said they’ve also been in touch with McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, about a possible Georgia visit.
McCain carried Georgia on Election Day by 52 percent to President-elect Barack Obama’s 47 percent.
Nonetheless, Martin has asked Obama to help out, but no word yet on whether he’ll stump for Martin.
Then President-elect Bill Clinton came to Georgia to campaign for Democratic Sen. Wyche Fowler in his 1992 runoff race. But even with the high-profile help, Fowler went on to lose to Republican Paul Coverdell in what was the last U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia.
Martin and Chambliss arguing a point during the GPBTV pre-election debate. At bottom is Libertarian candidate Allan Buckley. (Dave Bender/file)
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Voting officals warn against 'Video Your Vote'
Sign forbidding cellphone use, at the entrance to a polling station at the West Park Government Center in Cobb Co., Monday, Oct 13, 2008. (Dave Bender)
PBS, YouTube and other web sites want voters to use their video-equipped cellphones and PDA's to film the process on November 4th, and then upload the clips to the internet.
But there's a problem: it's illegal.
Georgia, Florida, Michigan and several other states outlaw photography or recording devices at polling stations, to one degree or another.
Nancy Boren is head of Elections and Registrations in Muscogee County.
She says polling workers and volunteers are aware of the issue, and will try to thwart it:
“We do have prohibition notices posted at our advanced and absentee voting sites; they are in clear view of the voters; they have the opportunity to review them before they enter the enclosed space for voting.”But organizers of "Video Your Vote," and similar sites say the initiative is meant to protect voting rights by monitoring the electoral process, and fight vote fraud.
Voters in the 2000 and 2004 complained of irregularities at polling stations, including malfunctioning voting machines, vote fraud and intimidation.
Numerous signs forbidding any campaigning within 150 feet of the outer edge of the polling station were posted at at the West Park Government Center in Cobb Co., Monday, Oct 13, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Opponents call the video idea an invasion of privacy, and that the very act of filming is disruptive and would affect the outcome of voting.
Boren says that in any case, the law will be enforced:
“If that became necessary, the sheriff’s department would be called, and a deputy would come here to talk with the voter, hopefully to get them to comply and then if they don’t, they would be removed from the voting precinct.”
Poll worker distributing sample ballots to voters at the polling station at West Park Government Center in Cobb Co., Monday, Oct 13, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Punishments vary in the states where it’s forbidden, and some states have buffer zones for campaigning and photography.
But, Boren says - so far - voters in her county have been very cooperative, and officials haven’t had to confiscate any communications devices.
Click here for more GPB election coverage, and here for our exclusive elections page.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Ga. senators navigate oil drilling fight
The last time Georgia Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson tried to find middle ground in an emotional policy battle before Congress, they quickly abandoned a bipartisan immigration package after getting pilloried from the right.
Now the Republicans are in the thick of a debate over oil drilling, and they're again fending off criticism from the likes of Rush Limbaugh over a compromise that would raise taxes on oil companies while paving the way for new drilling off the nation's coasts.
View Larger Map
The issue could come to a head this week as energy takes center stage on Capitol Hill and both parties maneuver to take credit for addressing $4-a-gallon gas prices.
Chambliss and Isakson are so far standing firm behind their proposal, which started with backing from a so-called "Gang of 10" and now has 20 Senate sponsors. But as the package gains bipartisan support, it also is drawing complaints from Republicans that it undercuts GOP momentum on the year's most high-profile political issue weeks before the November elections.
Limbaugh has repeatedly ridiculed the proposal on his conservative radio show, saying House Republicans are pressing for much more ambitious drilling while the Senate proposal "basically cuts (them) off at the knees."
The senators also have taken heat from congressional colleagues, including from fellow Georgia Republicans. Rep. Phil Gingrey of Marietta has said the senators are engaged in "procedural pleasantries" while Rep. Tom Price of Roswell contended their approach "doesn't make any sense to me."
Price said it is "foolhardy" to leave vast coastal areas off limits to drilling and said "tax increases on domestic oil production is counterproductive to bringing new American energy to the market."Chambliss and Isakson dismiss the criticism, arguing that voters want Congress to set aside differences and agree on something that will make a difference - even if it requires trade-offs.
"Usually if the extremes are raising cain, it means you're doing something right," said Chambliss, who spearheaded the compromise along with Sen. Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat. "We think if anything is going to get 60 votes, it's going to be our proposal."The plan would allow drilling 50 miles off the coasts of Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, and the Gulf coast of Florida. It would eliminate tax breaks for the oil and gas industry to generate some $30 billion in revenue, with the money used to offset a massive new investment in alternative energy.
Republicans such as Gingrey and Price want an "all of the above" bill that would allow far more new drilling all along the East and West coasts and in restricted areas of Alaska, without the tax increases on domestic producers.
In years past, any new offshore production would have spawned a firestorm of criticism from drilling critics who argue that it could cause irreversible environmental harm and only a marginal impact on global oil prices. But with voters outraged about the price of gas, the critics appear resigned to allowing some new exploration.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has outlined a package that is more in line with the Senate compromise than with Republican proposals.
Last year, Chambliss and Isakson acknowledged that they backed out of the bipartisan coalition on immigration in part because of a strong backlash from conservative constituents.
While there have been calls of protest on their drilling plan, they say they haven't heard anywhere near the level of concern that they had on immigration and that they won't give up on their "gang" unless the package gets altered.
"As long as nobody tries to shift the policies in the proposal, we're not going to do that," Isakson said. "We've got a solid group."(The Associated Press)
Click here for more GPB News stories about energy issues.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Latest statewide election results (Updated)
From the Secretary of State's Office:
Unofficial And Incomplete Results of the Tuesday, August 05,
2008 Primary Election Runoff
The results displayed are UNOFFICIAL AND INCOMPLETE until
certified by both county election superintendents and the
Secretary of State, a process that will not be completed until
the week of August 11.
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Polls close as Georgia chooses
Polls closed across Georgia Tuesday as voters selected which Democrat will take on Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss in November.
DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones is facing off against former state lawmaker Jim Martin in what has been bitter three-week runoff race.
Both candidates predict the contest will hinge on turnout, which was sparse across the state.
Just 18 percent of registered voters made it to the polls in July's primary and elections officials say fewer than half of those voters were expected to return to the ballot box for the runoff.
The last U.S. Senate Democratic primary runoff, in 2004, posted 6 percent turnout.
Jones and Martin were the top vote getters in the five-man Democratic primary three weeks ago. Jones won 40 percent of the vote in that contest and Martin earned 34 percent.
The runoff race has featured a duel over voting histories.
Jones accused Martin of voting against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Martin voted for John Edwards in Georgia's Feb. 5 presidential primary even though the North Carolina Democrat had already withdrawn from the presidential race.
Martin has hammered Jones for voting twice for Republican George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004.
Tuesday's winner will face an uphill climb against Chambliss, who has $4 million in his campaign warchest even after a massive media buy to blanket television airwaves statewide with his first re-election ad. The ad will debut after Tuesday's runoff.
Chambliss on Tuesday sent letters to both Jones and Martin saying he looks forward to debating whoever emerges as his opponent.
"After today's vote, the people of Georgia have a right to know what distinguishes their United States senator from the other candidates," Chambliss wrote. "A crucial part of that process for Georgians will be public debates."He did not commit to specific debates.
Chambliss sent a similar letter to Libertarian Senate candidate Allen Buckley, also on the ballot in November.
Runoffs are also being held Tuesday night in six legislative races. Three of them are incumbents facing challengers.
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
(The Associated Press)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Advance voting tomorrow in Ga. primary runoff
Advance voting begins on Monday for Georgia's primary runoff.
Georgians can vote in the runoff whether they cast a ballot in the July 15th primary or not. Voters who did participate in the primary and selected either a Democratic or Republican party ballot can only vote on the same party ballot in the runoff.
The biggest race in the Aug. 5 runoff is the Democratic U.S. Senate contest between DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones and former state lawmaker Jim Martin.
Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel reminded voters to bring a photo ID to the polls.
Advance in-person voting ends Friday, Aug. 1. Georgians also have until Friday to request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received by election day.
(The Associated Press)
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
GBI probes alleged voter fraud in Dodge County
This probe follows one from the mid 1990's when a huge voting scandal in Dodge County was uncovered. Then, 21 people were indicted of vote buying. Many pled guilty and a handful of residents went to jail. Since that scandal, Georgia's legislature has made it easier to vote absentee.
Monday, June 2, 2008
State absentee voting open for July primary
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Georgia breaks voting record
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Voter Guidelines for Upcoming Primaries
Secretary of State Karen Handel today reminded voters that the deadline to register to vote and be eligible to cast a ballot in the February 5 Presidential Preference Primary is Monday, January 7.
Here are the rules, according to a statement released by Handel's office:
To register to vote in Georgia, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. You may not register to vote if you are currently serving any sentence imposed by the conviction of a felony or judicially determined to be mentally incompetent.
You can download and complete a voter registration application by visiting the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.georgia.gov/elections. You can also contact your local county registrars' office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools and other government offices for a mail-in registration form. Voter Registration is offered when renewing or applying for a driver's license at any Georgia Department of Driver Services office. College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms from their school registrar's office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Georgia law requires registered voters to show photo identification when voting in person. This photo identification requirement applies in the February 5 Presidential Preference Primary and all future elections. When voting absentee by mail, photo identification is not required.
Voters casting ballots in person, either through early voting or on Election Day, will be required to show one of the following forms of acceptable photo ID when they vote:
- A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
- Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
- Valid U.S. passport;
- Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
- Valid U.S. military photo ID; or
- Valid tribal photo ID.
Voters who have questions are encouraged to call the Georgia Secretary of State’s Voter ID Hotline at (877) 725-9797 or visit www.GaPhotoID.com.
Click here for more GPB News political coverage.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Perdue signs election laws
Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the law Tuesday making February 5 Georgia's primary election date. He says the earlier election will force presidential hopefuls to campaign harder and more often in Georgia.
He also says this could be the start of a national primary.
"I, for one, frankly have never felt that Iowa, nor New Hampshire, should be the determinants of who becomes the two nominees," Perdue says. "I think as the population moves to the South and Southwest, you’ll see more of these efforts."
Lawmakers in about two dozen other states also recently chose February fifth as their primary election date.
Perdue also signed a law making absentee voter fraud a felony. Until now, election fraud laws have focused on tightening photo identification requirements for voters who go to the polls. Those laws were struck down by the courts. They were also criticized, in part because almost all of the voter fraud cases in Georgia history have involved absentee ballots. There were no safeguards against that type of fraud in the laws.
Secretary of State Karen Handel, who was at the bill signing, says this new law addresses that problem.
"Any type of fraud is something we're not going to stand for here in Georgia," Handel says. "What this legislation does is make sure that penalties for absentee ballot fraud are consistent with in-person voter fraud."
People found guilty of absentee voter fraud could spend up to 10 years in prison, and pay up to $100,000 in fines.