SB 536: "Henry McNeal Turner Voting Rights Act"; enact

Georgia currently has no standalone state law mirroring the federal Voting Rights Act. This bill would add a new chapter to Title 21 of Georgia's election code called the "Henry McNeal Turner Voting Rights Act." It bans election policies that suppress votes or dilute the voting power of racial, color, or language minority groups, and lays out detailed legal standards courts would use to decide such cases. The bill creates a five-member Georgia Voting Rights Commission, housed for administrative purposes in the Secretary of State's office, chosen through a nominating process run by certified advocacy organizations. Certain counties, cities, school districts, and other political subdivisions with a history of voting violations or specific demographic disparities would have to get the commission's approval (preclearance) before making election changes. The bill also requires language assistance for voters with limited English proficiency, creates a public Georgia Voting and Elections Database and Institute run with a state university, bans voter intimidation and deception, allows private lawsuits and attorney's fees, and waives sovereign immunity for the state and local governments in these cases. Most preclearance, language-access, and database provisions take effect July 1, 2028.

• Prohibits political subdivisions and state agencies from adopting election policies that suppress votes or dilute the voting strength of racial, color, or language minority groups.
• Creates the Georgia Voting Rights Commission, a five-member body attached to the Secretary of State's office, selected through a nominating committee of certified advocacy organizations.
• Requires certain covered political subdivisions, based on past violations or demographic disparity thresholds, to get commission preclearance before changing election policies, boundaries, or methods of election, starting July 1, 2028.
• Requires language assistance programs (translated ballots, bilingual poll workers, interpreters) for political subdivisions with significant limited-English-proficient populations, under a tiered system.
• Establishes the Georgia Voting and Elections Database and Institute, run with a state university, to collect and publish election data and exempt certain records from normal open-records requests once posted there.
• Creates a private right of action for individuals and organizations, allows attorney's fees for prevailing plaintiffs, bars the laches defense, and waives sovereign immunity for the state and local governments in these lawsuits.

County and municipal governments, school districts, election superintendents, and other local election officials; voters who are racial, color, or language minorities, including limited-English-proficient voters and voters with disabilities; the Secretary of State's office; a partnering state university; and any advocacy groups or individuals who might bring lawsuits under the new law.

Local governments in Georgia covered by the new rules would need state commission approval before changing voting maps, polling locations, or registration procedures, and could face lawsuits with fee-shifting and limited defenses if their policies are found to suppress or dilute votes. Voters with limited English proficiency or disabilities would gain new translation and assistance rights.

• Article 1 (O.C.G.A. § 21-3-1 et seq.) creates definitions and legislative findings on discrimination in voting and establishes the act's name.
• Article 2 (§§ 21-3-10 to 21-3-14) prohibits voter suppression and vote dilution, defines how violations are proven (material disparity, totality of circumstances, or intentional discrimination), and lists factors courts must weigh.
• Article 3 (§§ 21-3-30 to 21-3-33) sets up the five-member Georgia Voting Rights Commission with staggered five-year terms, a nominating committee of certified organizations, and subpoena power.
• Article 4 (§§ 21-3-40 to 21-3-44) creates a preclearance system requiring covered political subdivisions to get commission approval for certain election changes, effective July 1, 2028.
• Article 5 (§§ 21-3-50 to 21-3-60) requires tiered language assistance programs for limited-English-proficient voters based on population thresholds, effective July 1, 2028.
• Article 6 (§§ 21-3-70 to 21-3-78) establishes the Georgia Voting and Elections Database and Institute with a state university, including an exemption from open records requests for data it maintains.
• Article 7 (§§ 21-3-90 to 21-3-92) bans intimidation, deception, and obstruction of voters and allows damages, including punitive damages for willful violations.
• Article 9 and 10 (§§ 21-3-120 to 21-3-141) set standing rules, notice requirements before suing, expedited court review, attorney's fees for prevailing plaintiffs, a bar on the laches defense, and a waiver of sovereign immunity.

1. 2026-02-20Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-19Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)Primary sponsor
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Randal Mangham (D, SD-055)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)

• voting rights
• election law
• language access for voters
• redistricting and election changes
• government accountability