by (Recorder of Georgia) The ridesharing business Lyft has been charged by Georgia’s State Election Board with breaking the state’s election code by providing users who were going to the polls with discounted rides.
The board voted 3-1 to send Lyft a letter at a meeting on Tuesday, claiming that the company had broken a Georgia election code provision that forbids giving or receiving, offering to give or receive, or taking part in the giving or receiving of money or gifts in exchange for voter registration, voting, or supporting a specific candidate.
Although breaking the law is a felony, neither a fine nor a referral to criminal prosecution are being made by the board.
In the run-up to the general election in 2022, a Georgia resident filed two complaints alleging that programs that provide transportation to the polls may have violated election laws. The nonprofit left-learning organization Rideshare2vote, which aims to boost Democratic voting turnout, was the target of the initial complaint. Lyft, which has spent the last ten years engaging in voter outreach initiatives across the nation, was the target of the second complaint.
Despite claiming that its objective was to increase the number of Democratic votes, Rideshare2vote offered free trips and did not reject voters of any political party, according to a later probe by the secretary of state’s office. Additionally, volunteers with Rideshare2vote were told not to approach voters about their political identity or try to persuade them to back any particular party or candidate. On Tuesday, the board decided to reject a complaint against Rideshare2vote.
A more complex problem was Lyft’s voter engagement initiative, which offered voters throughout the state reduced rather than free transportation to the polls.The state election board voted 3-1 to send Lyft a letter at a meeting on Tuesday, claiming that the corporation had broken a rule in Georgia’s election law that forbids exchanging gifts or cash for votes. (The Georgia Recorder/Ross Williams)
Despite the complaint being scheduled for dismissal on Tuesday’s agenda, the board’s Republican appointee, Janice Johnston, asked the board to pursue it.
According to Johnston, they are in violation as they provided a valuable incentive to vote for Lyft’s discount scheme. They have broken Georgia’s election code.
Johnston asserted that providing voters with discount tickets amounted to vote trafficking, or purchasing votes, and pointed out that rural areas of the state could not have easy access to ridesharing services like Lyft.
A request for comment regarding Attorney General Chris Carr’s agreement with that legal view was not answered by Carr’s office.
In response to Johnston’s comments, Sara Tindall Ghazal, the board’s only Democratic appointee, highlighted local churches and other organizations that provide transportation to voters on election day in specific regions.
“It’s completely unacceptable for churches to give [rides to] anybody throughout the state of Georgia,” she added, adding that churches often give their members transportation to the polls.
It seems absurd to me that the only circumstance in which something is not regarded as a gift is if it is given throughout the state.
Michael Brunson, the secretary of state investigator, suggested that the complaint be dropped, pointing out that the board has previously rejected cases like this. Johnston and Janelle King, another board member who supports Trump, urged for further action, nevertheless. In the upcoming weeks, Lyft will receive a letter of instruction from the board.
A request for comment from Lyft was not answered.
