Barry Fleming Explained

Barry Fleming
Office:Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
Term Start:January 14, 2013
Term End:January 9, 2024
Predecessor:Lee Anderson (redistricting)
Successor:Gary Richardson
Constituency:121st District (2013–2023)
125th District (2023–2024)
Term Start1:January 13, 2003
Term End1:January 12, 2009
Predecessor1:Tom Rice
Successor1:Lee Anderson
Constituency1:79th District (2003–2005)
117th District (2005–2009)
Birth Date:20 May 1965
Birth Place:Harlem, Georgia, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:University of Georgia (BA, JD)

Barry Fleming (born May20, 1965) is an American politician who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013 to 2024. He previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009.[1] [2]

In 2021, he introduced an election reform bill that would restrict voting access.[3] [4] Among its many provisions, it would restrict where ballot drop boxes can be located and when they can be accessed, require photo identification for absentee voting, shift back the deadline to request an absentee ballot, and limit early voting hours.[3] Most controversially, it would restrict early voting on Sundays, when Black churches traditionally run "Souls to the Polls" get-out-the-vote efforts;[5] [6] according to The Economist, Black voter turnout is 10 percentage points higher on Sundays.[7]

On March10, 2021, Hancock County commissioners voted 40 to ask for Fleming’s resignation as the county's attorney because of his sponsorship of House Bill 531, which critics call a "voter suppression bill".[8] The 2019 Census shows that "Hancock County's population is around 71% African-American" and 2020 election results showed Joe Biden won Hancock County with 71.7% of the vote versus 27.8% for Donald Trump.

Georgia governor Brian Kemp appointed Fleming to serve as a superior court judge on the Columbia Judicial Circuit on December28, 2023.[9] He was sworn in on January10, 2024.[9]

See also

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Representative Barry Fleming . House.ga.gov . 2019-02-27.
  2. Web site: Special-election winner Broun fighting from behind vs. Fleming . The Hill. 2007-10-31 . 2019-02-27.
  3. Web site: Nadler. Ben. Yoganathan. Anila. 1 March 2021. Georgia House passes GOP bill rolling back voting access. live. Associated Press. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301230344/https://apnews.com/article/senate-elections-bills-legislation-elections-georgia-842d9ad16a78901322f4b952f6c0d8dd . 2021-03-01 .
  4. Web site: Simms. Claire. 1 March 2021. Georgia House approves election reform legislation. live. Fox 5. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301235032/https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/georgia-house-approves-election-reform-legislation . 2021-03-01 .
  5. News: Corasaniti. Nick. Rutenberg. Jim. 2021-03-06. In Georgia, Republicans Take Aim at Role of Black Churches in Elections. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-03-07. 0362-4331.
  6. News: Scott. Eugene. 24 February 2021. New Georgia legislation would curb 'souls to the polls'. live. The Washington Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20210224224834/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/24/new-georgia-legislation-would-curb-souls-polls/ . 2021-02-24 .
  7. News: 13 March 2021. America's battle over election laws. live. The Economist. https://web.archive.org/web/20210311132322/https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/03/13/americas-battle-over-election-laws . 2021-03-11 .
  8. Web site: Hancock County commissioners ask attorney behind GOP-led election bill to resign. 2021-03-11. WMAZ. 11 March 2021 . en-US.
  9. News: Niesse . Mark . Republican behind Georgia voting law appointed as judge . . December 28, 2023.