Georgia’s new voting bill has included new laws that have sparked a controversy between both the Republican and Democratic parties. It’s even gone so far to big named-brands, such as condemnation from Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines,  along with those brands who don’t, like AT&T and Comcas t-  both which donated in favor of the bill. So, what is this bill? And why is it so controversial?

The bill was created by Georgia Republicans and opposed by Democrats. According to The New York Times, “The new law will, in particular, curtail ballot access for voters in booming urban and suburban counties, home to many Democrats. Another provision makes it a crime to offer water to voters waiting in lines, which tend to be longer in densely populated communities.” With this bill, comes many new significant changes, including:

• Less time to request absentee ballots. In Georgia, voters had six months to request an absentee ballot, now they only have three.
• Less drop boxes around the state. Before, there were over 60 drop boxes scattered. Now, there will be around 23.
• Offering food or water to voters is now a potential misdemeanor charge. This is important because long lines in Georgia are always inevitable. The law states that only elected officials are able to give voters resources to food and water, not third parties, making it much harder to vote in lines, and third-party places.
• The secretary of state is removed as a voting member of the State Election Board.