ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered the Justice Department to withdraw its legal challenge against Georgia’s controversial election law, marking a significant policy shift from the previous administration. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021 under former President Joe Biden, accused the law of targeting Black voters and restricting ballot access. Bondi, however, dismissed these claims as “false” and politically motivated.
A Sudden Policy Shift
The decision to drop the lawsuit comes as a surprise to many voting rights advocates, who had been pushing for continued federal scrutiny of Georgia’s election policies. Bondi framed the move as a necessary step toward restoring public confidence in the electoral system, saying the legal challenge was “an overreach of federal power.”
Georgia’s election overhaul, passed by Republican lawmakers following former President Donald Trump’s loss in the state, introduced new voting restrictions, including tighter absentee ballot rules and limits on ballot drop boxes. Critics have argued that these measures disproportionately affect minority voters, a claim the Biden-era Justice Department had sought to prove in court.
What the Law Changed
The Georgia law, officially known as Senate Bill 202, made several changes to voting procedures:
- Shortened the window for requesting absentee ballots.
- Required new voter ID rules for mail-in ballots.
- Limited the number of drop boxes and restricted their hours of operation.
- Prohibited passing out food and water to voters waiting in line at polling places.
- Gave more power to state officials to oversee local elections.
Supporters of the law argue these measures enhance election security and prevent fraud, while opponents say they create unnecessary barriers, especially for Black and low-income voters.
The Political Reactions
The announcement sparked immediate reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. Republican officials hailed the decision as a win for election integrity, with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp saying, “This lawsuit was always about politics, not policy. The Justice Department is right to step away.”
On the other hand, Democratic leaders and civil rights groups condemned the move. “This is a betrayal of the fundamental right to vote,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. “It sends a message that voter suppression efforts will go unchallenged.”
A group of Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, vowed to continue fighting the law in court through private legal action. “The fight isn’t over just because the Justice Department is stepping aside,” Warnock said.
Legal and Electoral Implications
With the federal challenge dropped, the law is likely to remain in place for the 2026 midterm elections unless overturned by other lawsuits still pending in state and federal courts.
The decision also signals a broader shift in the Justice Department’s stance on state election laws. Under Biden, federal officials took an aggressive approach in challenging Republican-led voting restrictions nationwide. Bondi’s move suggests a departure from that strategy, possibly reflecting a new focus on state-level election oversight rather than federal intervention.
Some legal experts warn that the dismissal could set a precedent. “This could make it more difficult to challenge restrictive voting laws in the future,” said Rick Hasen, an election law professor at UCLA. “It’s a major setback for those advocating federal protections for voting rights.”
One thing is certain: this decision will have lasting political and legal repercussions as both parties prepare for the next round of elections. The fight over voting rights in Georgia is far from over, and with private lawsuits still in play, the debate over access to the ballot box will likely continue well beyond this election cycle.
