Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance rallied supporters in Georgia on Saturday morning, criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for suggesting that voters who support conservative policies are bad people. Vance urged Harris to stop censoring citizens, try to persuade them, and stop labeling them as racist for wanting their children to attend schools where English is spoken. He also called for an end to accusations of bad intentions for wanting secure borders, smaller hospital wait times, and to combat fentanyl in communities. The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment, as Vance appeared in Georgia where early voting numbers have already surpassed half of the total turnout in the 2020 election.
The chief operating officer for the secretary of state’s office in Georgia, Gabriel Sterling, reported that over 50% of the turnout for the 2020 election has already voted, undermining claims of voter suppression in the state. More than 2.6 million Georgians have voted early, with the total count in 2020 being just under five million. Vance noted that Republicans in Georgia have embraced early voting more than in past years due in part to election reforms implemented by the state, including restrictions on absentee and mail-in voting, expanded voter ID requirements, and prohibitions on non-poll workers providing food and drink to voters waiting in line. These changes were made in response to unproven claims by former President Trump of widespread voter fraud in the state.
The total vote count in Georgia’s 2020 election was nearly five million, with former President Trump losing to President Biden by just 11,779 votes. Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office reported the high turnout so far in early voting, indicating increased engagement. Vance spoke to a reporter after his remarks in Georgia, stating that he believes the state’s Republicans have embraced early voting due to recent election reforms. These reforms were signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp in 2021, following Trump’s claims of fraud in the previous election. Republicans argued that the new restrictions were necessary to ensure election integrity, despite criticism over potential disenfranchisement.
Vance’s message to Kamala Harris in Georgia included calls for respectful debate, persuasion, and an end to divisive rhetoric labeling voters as bad people for their policy preferences. He highlighted issues such as border security, access to quality healthcare, and combating drug crises as important to American citizens. The high turnout in Georgia’s early voting reflects voter engagement and participation, with over half of the total 2020 turnout already surpassed. The state’s election reforms have played a role in encouraging early voting, as Republicans have embraced the new policies aimed at preserving election integrity. As the 2022 midterm elections approach, the political landscape in Georgia remains contested and highly mobilized.
