Georgia’s Unhoused Populations Are Targets of Voter Suppression

Since the 2020 election, Georgia has been a focal point of voter suppression and discrimination. The voters of Georgia have suffered constant attacks on their voting rights, the most recent of which was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp in May 2024. Senate Bill 189 is the latest in a string of bills disguised as protection for election security and voting integrity when, in reality, it restricts access and targets the most vulnerable populations of Georgians. 

SB 189 makes it easier to file baseless voter challenges and increases the requirements for election board officials, who already hold burdensome jobs. The most egregious change enacted in this law allows for a challenge of eligibility for any voter not registered at a residential address. This specifically targets the unhoused population and creates confusion for any voter in transitional housing. Many addresses are not zoned as residential, including but not limited to shelters, dorms, nursing homes and transitional developments. 

Due to the antagonistic nature of recent voting rights laws, preventative measures should be taken to protect vulnerable populations such as unhoused people. Rep. Spencer Frye’s priority of establishing a voting rights commission provides the framework to instill these protections. Voter outreach and engagement are essential in Georgia due to the growing population of unhoused people. 

According to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the unhoused population is steadily increasing in Georgia, with a 40% increase in 2022 compared to 2019. While this data includes both sheltered and unsheltered individuals, SB 189 could disenfranchise both groups, as neither would qualify with a current residential address if challenged in an upcoming election cycle. 

By requiring voters to register with only residential addresses, Georgia isolates the unhoused population and discourages them from participating in the electoral process. The law’s precedent allows for many more potential eligibility challenges, which, regardless of merit, will weigh down the productivity of the election boards. 

Since the signing of SB 189, many civil rights groups have filed lawsuits challenging the state for various provisions within the bill. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law filed a suit against Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, challenging the residential address requirements. 

Ryan Snow, counsel with The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, stated, “There is simply no justification for Georgia to allow eligible voters to be challenged on the basis that they reside at a ‘nonresidential’ address–a classification which has no relation to their eligibility to vote.” 

Despite widespread outrage from civil rights groups and progressive activists, this bill was considered a significant win for the Republican Party of Georgia. As GOP representatives celebrated, Rep. John LaHood said, “I see this as being pro-America, pro-accuracy, pro-transparency, and pro-election integrity.” 

The partisan split on reactions to this law and the voting record adds a political frame to this issue. This law uses vulnerable voting populations as political ploys to gain favor with right-wing voters despite there being no constitutional precedent for these restrictions. 

While judges will likely decide the constitutionality of SB 189 in upcoming court cases, it is worth the effort and resources to start preventative measures to protect unhoused voters. Increasing funding designated for election information and support within measures such as the strategic plan to prevent homelessness in Athens-Clarke County (ACC) is an example of a legislative way to support unhoused voters. 

The five-year plan authorizes ARPA funds within ACC for various homelessness initiatives, including expanding social services. Following the passage of SB 189, it would be beneficial for the commission to amend the social services category to include voter services and support. 

While this initiative is specific to county funding, the idea could be modeled statewide. These services could include registration assistance, access to voter information, support from litigators if eligibility challenges arise and education on specific policy issues related to the interests of the unhoused population.

Georgia does not currently fund programs to increase unhoused voter education or engagement, and most of these responsibilities fall on non-profit organizations. Increasing funding through the state and counties to collaborate with community organizations would provide more resources and better access to the unhoused population. 

Examples exist in cities such as Washington, D.C., where the government collaborated with the non-profit Miriam’s Kitchen to provide more robust social services to unhoused populations, including election engagement. As Rep. Spencer Frye outlines, establishing a Georgia Voting Rights Commission would provide the resources to evaluate and develop funding for these outreach programs. 

Until the Georgia GOP stops targeting vulnerable individuals, the legislature must take protective measures to ensure the voting rights of every eligible voter.

Ellie Smith is a third-year student at the University of Georgia studying political science. She is a member of the voting rights group.