ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation Wednesday that allows the GBI to launch investigations into voter fraud allegations, the latest Republican-led effort to change election rules after Democratic victories.
The measure to give the statewide agency stronger police powers over elections was staunchly opposed by Democrats and voting rights groups who warned that greater police involvement in elections could intimidate voters and suppress turnout.
Echoing other GOP supporters, Kemp called Senate Bill 441 a “strong, commonsense” law that brings more confidence to the Georgia’s election system. He also proposed about $500,000 in next year’s budget to finance new GBI positions to probe election complaints.
