Saira Draper
Coverage of Saira Draper in the Nexus archive.
- A last-minute change to Georgia’s ballot QR code bill could steer voting in a new direction
Georgia’s ballot QR code bill, which allows continued use of QR codes until 2028, includes a last-minute amendment requiring a focus on hand-marked paper ballot systems and on-demand printing. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Tim Fleming, narrows the scope of a committee tasked with selecting Georgia’s next voting system, prompting criticism from Rep. Saira Draper over reduced transparency.
- Georgia Democrats blast requirement to recount votes by hand in bill that would keep ballot QR codes
Georgia Democrats oppose a bill requiring hand recounts of ballots in the 2022 midterm elections, which Republicans in the Georgia Senate approved as part of legislation to retain ballot QR codes. The bill delays a deadline for replacing QR codes but introduces a hand recount for key races, raising concerns about error rates and election chaos.
- Georgia Democrats blast requirement to recount votes by hand in bill that would keep ballot QR codes
Georgia Democrats oppose a Senate amendment requiring hand recounts for top races in November, which was added to a bill extending the deadline to phase out ballot QR codes. The amendment faces criticism for risking election chaos and errors, while Republicans argue it enhances voter confidence. Georgia's current system uses QR codes, which have been criticized by Trump and election advocates.
- Georgia lawmakers plan to redraw district lines, even as dispute over current maps remains unsettled
Georgia lawmakers are preparing for another redistricting special session, with the Republican-controlled Legislature potentially reducing minority voting power to gain a partisan advantage. The current maps, redrawn in 2023 under federal court order to protect Black Georgians' voting strength, remain under appeal. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais has shifted the legal standard for challenging gerrymandered districts.
- Georgia lawmakers plan to redraw district lines, even as dispute over current maps remains unsettled
Georgia lawmakers plan to redraw congressional and legislative district lines during a special session, amid ongoing legal disputes over current maps. A 2023 federal court order required new maps to protect Black voting power, but appeals remain pending. The U.S. Supreme Court's April ruling in Louisiana v. Callais weakened the Voting Rights Act, potentially allowing partisan gerrymandering.
- Georgia could elect first openly transgender, nonbinary lawmaker
Bentley Hudgins is poised to become Georgia's first openly transgender and nonbinary state lawmaker after winning the Democratic primary for House District 90. They face Republican Samantha Boston in the general election, with the district being one of the state's most Democratic. Hudgins has a background in advocacy and policy work with organizations like the ACLU and Georgia AFL-CIO.