The bill made national news this week with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaking about the dangers it presents. 

“Since 2012—the GA GOP has closed more than 200 polling places. Voters in mostly Black precincts now wait 8X LONGER to vote than voters in mostly white precincts. Now the GOP makes it a crime to give water to people standing in long lines THEY CREATED,” Schumer said. 

Warnock said it was clear why Republicans wanted the bill. 

“Instead of adjusting their message, some Georgia politicians have decided to rewrite the rules with SB 202—a thinly-veiled attempt to suppress the vote. It’s Jim Crow in new clothes.We will not go back. And Congress must act to protect the sacred right to vote,” Warnock said in a statement on Twitter.

Instead of adjusting their message, some Georgia politicians have decided to rewrite the rules with SB 202—a thinly-veiled attempt to suppress the vote. It’s Jim Crow in new clothes.

We will not go back. And Congress must act to protect the sacred right to vote.

— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) March 26, 2021

New South Super PAC founder Nsé Ufot told Blavity in a statement that the bill “is a direct attack on our democracy and on Georgians, who deserve to have their votes counted and voices heard.”

“After losses in 2020 and 2021, Republicans know that their only hope to win our state is to silence the voices of Georgians of color. That’s why they are launching this vengeful, concerted, racist effort to suppress our votes and our voices,” Ufot said.

“As Republicans try to cling to this Big Lie, we must remember one Big Truth: Georgia is now a blue state. Regardless of how hard Georgia Republicans try to cheat their way back into power, it will remain a blue state. We will continue to fight and we will not back down to Republican fear-mongering, lies, and blatant attempts at voter suppression,” she added. 

The New Georgia Project, Black Voters Matter and Rise filed a lawsuit against the bill almost as soon as it was signed.