"MISLEADING NARRATIVES ABOUND ABOUT GEORGIA'S NEW VOTING LAW" – LOEFFLER PENS OP-ED IN THE AJC
April 5, 2021
In case you missed it, Greater Georgia Chairwoman Kelly Loeffler wrote an op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
on Sunday slamming the partisan misinformation being spread by the mainstream media and the left about the Election Integrity Act. The op-ed also highlights the consequences of eroding voter confidence and outlines why voter turnout is crucial to promoting the pro-growth policies that lift up every Georgian. Read the full text of Kelly's op-ed below:
The mainstream media’s narrative about Georgia’s elections legislation, the Election Integrity Act, which expands voting, has been completely partisan and wrong.
In 2020, we saw unprecedented changes to our state’s elections that ultimately eroded faith in the process. I know firsthand because I was a candidate in the two largest elections in our state’s history.
Georgia made national news with problems during primary voting, transitioned to new voting machines and drop boxes in the midst of a pandemic, learned of legal settlements that created mistrust of absentee ballots, then saw unsolicited absentee ballot applications mailed out statewide – just to name a few.
As a result, voters’ trust in our elections is at a record low. Thankfully, our state legislature did not bend to the media’s narrative and has taken prudent steps to strengthen our state’s elections.
Restoring faith and confidence in our elections isn’t a partisan issue and the majority of Georgians demanded more integrity, as data shows. In a late January The Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll, 55% of Georgians said they support more safeguards in our elections, including 74% support for requiring a valid state identification when casting absentee ballots. That same margin of support exists for state IDs across the country.
Yet, while Georgia lawmakers listened to their constituents, Washington politicians are ignoring the will of the people in a partisan power grab. H.R. 1 – the “For the People Act” – would take constitutional powers from the states in conducting elections. This includes banning states from requiring voter identification, while allowing ballot harvesting.
And, amid an epic crisis at the Southern border, H.R. 1 would eliminate felony penalties for illegal immigrants who vote in our elections. At nearly 1,000 pages, it’s a massive partisan takeover of our most-important democratic institution. We must reject the liberal talking point that equates commonsense voting integrity measures to voter suppression.
But it’s not just Washington liberals who are moving quickly to take power from the people. When Big Tech executives like Mark Zuckerberg pour hundreds of millions of dollars into pivotal local boards of elections that could potentially influence outcomes, one has to question liberal tolerance if a conservative donor had done the same. At the same time, Big Tech monopolies censored conservatives on social media, and the mainstream media suppressed news coverage that could have impacted elections. Americans are waking up to this threat and polling shows growing concerns of bias in mainstream media and Big Tech influence on our elections.
Stepping back from the media narrative, the reality is that Georgia’s Election Integrity Act was based on expanding access and confidence. Expanding early in-person voting hours, establishing a hotline to report voter fraud, implementing state ID requirements for absentee ballots (it already applies to voting in person) and eliminating subjective signature matches, extending the use and uniformity of ballot drop boxes, printing ballots on security paper, requiring electors to vote in their own precinct, preventing election boards from accepting outside money, establishing a nonpartisan state elections board chair, and preserving Sunday voting all make sense.
You might ask why liberal groups are fighting steps to reduce interference and promote a stronger democracy. Perhaps it’s because once elections are secure, the focus will go back to the policies that impact Georgians’ lives every day and to holding politicians accountable for failed policies.
We’ve already felt the impact of Washington’s expanding role in our daily lives with rising gas prices, lost jobs, closed schools, open borders and falling support for safer communities.
The consequence of a loss of faith in elections extends beyond those who already vote. Half a million Georgians who voted in the November election, did not vote in the January runoffs – and 339,000 of those typically vote Republican.
Additionally, 2.5 million registered Georgians haven’t voted in recent elections, with another 2 million who are still unregistered. The sense that their vote doesn’t count – or that their voice isn’t important -- leads millions of our neighbors to stay home. We now have more safeguards to ensure they are not discouraged or mistrustful.
Rather than engage in partisan, mainstream narratives, the legislature focused on strengthening integrity for all voters. As a result, we now have practical solutions that restore accountability, extend access and expand transparency for every Georgia voter. In a state that is now a key battleground, helping more people vote — with more confidence — is something we can all be proud of.
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Media Contact: press@greatergeorgia.com
GREATER GEORGIA LAUNCHES STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION PUSH IN ADVANCE OF 2026 MIDTERMS
BUSINESS LEADERS JOIN LABOR COMMISSIONER BARBARA RIVERA HOLMES AND GREATER GEORGIA TO TACKLE WORKFORCE READINESS
ATLANTA, GA— Greater Georgia today released a statement in support of Georgia’s ongoing voter roll cleanup, calling the move a necessary and long overdue step to protect election integrity and restore confidence in the state’s electoral process. The Secretary of State’s office last week began the process of removing more than 500,000 outdated voter registrations, including those who have moved, passed away, or not voted in nearly a decade, as part of one of the largest list maintenance efforts in Georgia history. “This voter roll cleanup is not only common sense, it’s long overdue after fear-mongering lawsuits from leftist groups halted the process,” said Terry Fye of Greater Georgia. “Election officials, and especially the Secretary of State’s office, are legally required to keep our rolls accurate and failing to do so undermines trust in our elections and opens the door to potential fraud.” Georgia law requires regular voter roll maintenance to ensure only eligible voters remain on the rolls. The current process includes multiple attempts to contact inactive voters before any cancellation is finalized, offering ample time to update their information and maintain active status. Since its founding, Greater Georgia has worked to strengthen trust in elections by advocating for secure, transparent, and accountable voting practices. The organization has registered more than 65,000 new voters, expanded civic engagement in every corner of the state, and continues to push for meaningful reforms that protect the vote of every legal Georgian. ### Greater Georgia, founded by former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler in 2021, is working to register, engage, educate, and mobilize voters in communities across the Peach State. Our year-round work is focused on growing our movement by registering voters who may not be captured by Georgia’s “Motor Voter” program, mobilizing diverse and underrepresented communities, promoting issue advocacy, and fighting to restore trust and integrity in our elections.
ATLANTA, GA — Today, Greater Georgia Action, Inc. announced a statewide education tour to inform Georgians about consequential legislation passed during the 2025 legislative session, with a heavy focus on Governor Brian Kemp’s civil judicial reform package. Engaging speakers and innovative event formats will allow Georgians to learn about the impact of these laws and ask questions in an approachable environment. Each unique event, ranging from small business roundtables to town halls, will feature key civic leaders, elected officials, and topic experts. Additional information will be made available closer to the event. Greater Georgia is excited to visit: April 16, 2025 - Dekalb County (Stonecrest, GA) featuring Insurance Commissioner John King Bibb County (Macon, GA) Fulton County (Alpharetta, GA) Chatham County (Savannah, GA) Whitfield County (Dalton, GA) Gwinnett County (TBD) Doughtery County (Albany, GA) Athens Clarke County (Athens, GA) Lowndes County (Valdosta, GA) “Educating diverse and disengaged communities is a key mission of Greater Georgia, so we’re taking our message on the road to reach voters where they are,” said Terry Fye, Director of Outreach for Greater Georgia. “Georgia took an immense step toward balanced court rooms and competitive insurance markets, and these events will help Georgians understand the full benefits of tort reform and provide real- time feedback to their elected officials.” “Session is out, and now our work begins in earnest to educate voters on the legislation passed that will impact them and their families. This tour will empower voters and provide them with the resources they need to make informed decisions next November.” For additional information about Greater Georgia and to receive updates about the education tour, please visit our website, https://www.greatergeorgia.com/.
ATLANTA, GA — Today, Greater Georgia Action, Inc. announced a statewide education tour to inform Georgians about consequential legislation passed during the 2025 legislative session, with a heavy focus on Governor Brian Kemp’s civil judicial reform package. Engaging speakers and innovative event formats will allow Georgians to learn about the impact of these laws and ask questions in an approachable environment. Each unique event, ranging from small business roundtables to town halls, will feature key civic leaders, elected officials, and topic experts. Additional information will be made available closer to the event. Greater Georgia is excited to visit: April 16, 2025 - Dekalb County (Stonecrest, GA) featuring Insurance Commissioner John King Bibb County (Macon, GA) Fulton County (Alpharetta, GA) Chatham County (Savannah, GA) Whitfield County (Dalton, GA) Gwinnett County (TBD) Doughtery County (Albany, GA) Athens Clarke County (Athens, GA) Lowndes County (Valdosta, GA) “Educating diverse and disengaged communities is a key mission of Greater Georgia, so we’re taking our message on the road to reach voters where they are,” said Terry Fye, Director of Outreach for Greater Georgia. “Georgia took an immense step toward balanced court rooms and competitive insurance markets, and these events will help Georgians understand the full benefits of tort reform and provide real- time feedback to their elected officials.” “Session is out, and now our work begins in earnest to educate voters on the legislation passed that will impact them and their families. This tour will empower voters and provide them with the resources they need to make informed decisions next November.” For additional information about Greater Georgia and to receive updates about the education tour, please visit our website, https://www.greatergeorgia.com/.
ATLANTA – Today, Greater Georgia announced that its 2024 pre-election voter registration push registered over 7,000 new conservative voters and re-engaged over 4,000 inactive conservative voters. Inactive voters are those who had not participated in an election in the last five years - in this case, since at least 2018. "Greater Georgia has become the leading conservative voter registration group in our state - working year-round to expand the tent, rather than taking it down after every election," said Greater Georgia Chairwoman Kelly Loeffler. "Since 2021, we have registered more than 55,000 new voters, who just became part of the landslide that elected President Trump. We've proved our thesis that we can keep Georgia red as long as we work year-round, every year, to grow the conservative movement. Today, as we prepare for the next election cycle starting with municipal elections in 2025, we can confidently say that the movement has never been stronger or more energized." Greater Georgia is the state's leading conservative voter registration organization. Since it was founded in 2021, the group has registered and re-engaged more than 55,000 voters. It has also worked to build diverse coalitions and advocate for election integrity. In 2024, the group invested in multiple six-figure campaigns, including an 8-week voter registration campaign that ran from August to October, featuring digital ads, text messages, in-person voter registration drives, and over 115,000 phone calls to unregistered voters. ### Media Contact: press@greatergeorgia.com