The Georgia Senate has passed, and sent to the Georgia House, election reform legislation that could be a model for other States to follow—while, say I, encouraging—requiring, really—the Federal government to butt out.

Some highlights:

• eliminate no-excuse absentee voting and
• limit mail-in ballots to individuals who qualify based on specific criteria
  • people who are physically disabled
  • are over 65 years old
  • are eligible as a military or overseas voter
  • have a religious holiday around election day
  • work in elections
  • somehow need to be outside their voting precinct during the early voting period and election day
• eliminate no-excuse absentee voting
• require voter identification to request an absentee ballot
• require Georgia to participate in a nongovernmental multi-state voter registration system to cross-check the eligibility of voters
• allow mobile voting units to be used only to replace current brick-and-mortar voting facilities, not supplement them
• set up a telephone hotline to receive complaints and reports regarding voter intimidation and election fraud, and require the State’s Attorney General to review them within three days