US voting law changes face rights groups' pushback

US rights groups are trying to counter recent voting law changes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, arguing that new rules are making it harder for legitimate voters to cast ballots.

In Georgia, the Black Voters Matter Fund is canvassing door-to-door to tell voters about their rights and help people stay on voter rolls after changes to state election laws.

Voting reform has become a major election issue. President Donald Trump says laws need broad changes to ensure election integrity, while rights groups say restrictive measures are limiting voter access.

The Brennan Center for Justice says US states have passed dozens of restrictive voting laws since 2021 and that nine states have passed 12 such laws this year.

Georgia has passed laws requiring additional identification, narrowing access to absentee ballots and voting dropboxes, and expanding the ways people can challenge voter eligibility. One clause makes it illegal to offer food or water to voters standing in long lines outside polling places.

Wanda Mosley, deputy policy director at Black Voters Matter Fund, said the changes disproportionately affect Black, brown and working-class voters. Republicans reject allegations that the laws target those groups and say the changes are needed to protect election accuracy and transparency.

Georgia lawmaker John LaHood said one major election law change was “pro-America, pro-accuracy, pro-transparency and pro-election integrity.”

Noah Beck, the election director in Georgia's Polk County, said voting machines in his area are accurate but that he is open to changes required to gain voter trust.