The Daily Yonder says its analysis of State Election Board records for 2015 and 2016 in Georgia “shows that rural voters are about twice as likely to be investigated as urban voters are.” The secretary of state’s office, which oversees elections, says if there’s a disparity, it’s because rural poll workers are not as well trained rather than bias of any form.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp, now running for governor, “emphasized prosecuting voting infractions” in campaigning for his current office, said the Daily Yonder. “Voting rights groups have filed a variety of complaints against Kemp. Most recently, a federal court forced the state to re-open voter registration for the upcoming U.S. House of Representatives special election, saying Kemp closed registration prematurely.”
A spokeswoman for Kemp said even if rural voters are investigated at a higher rate, everyone is treated fairly. “Voting rights activists say it’s the very threat of investigation – not just concern about being found guilty – that suppresses voter participation,” said the Daily Yonder. It said one-third of the roughly 250 cases considered by the elections board in 2015 and 2016 originated in rural counties. Less the one-fifth of Georgians live in rural areas, so the rate of investigation was 1 in every 23,000 rural votes and 1 per 52,000 votes in cities.