Californians are preparing to move to Georgia ahead of the state’s runoff elections to help flip the Senate blue but moving there to do so might violate state law.
“In order to be able to register to vote in Georgia, you have to be a Georgia resident,” Georgia’s voting system manager Gabriel Sterling said during a press conference. “That means you have to believe you are staying in Georgia.”
“I know there’s been discussion about people coming from out of state, Andrew Yang being the most famous to come help Georgia see the light and do the right thing,” Sterling added.
“Let me be clear about this: If you want to move to Georgia and be a part of the No. 1 state in America to do business, we are happy to have you,” Sterling said. “But … if you voted for Senate in one state and moved here to another state, I know that’s another thing that could potentially go before the courts because you’ve already cast a vote for a body that’s going to be seated in January. Don’t game our system.”
Failed 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang announced earlier this month he would move to Georgia with his wife to help Democratic Senate candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. The runoff elections will determine who holds majority power of the Senate.
“Great news #yanggang – Evelyn and I are moving to Georgia to help @ossoff and @ReverendWarnock win!” Yang tweeted on Nov. 7. “This is our only chance to clear Mitch out of the way and help Joe and Kamala get things done in the next 4 years.”
Great news #yanggang – Evelyn and I are moving to Georgia to help @ossoff and @ReverendWarnock win! This is our only chance to clear Mitch out of the way and help Joe and Kamala get things done in the next 4 years. More details to come but let’s go!!! ???? https://t.co/egcdwqC1qZ
— Andrew Yang??? (@AndrewYang) November 8, 2020
A California-based group called Flip the West said it is “dedicated to harnessing grassroots power to help Democrats take back the U.S. Senate, has filled up more than 7,500 phone bank shifts for making calls to Georgia,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
16,000 people have also volunteered to send postcards to Georgia voters, reminding them to vote in the runoff elections on Jan. 5.
“Often, you have to nudge people to phone bank. It just shows the passion people have for this,” Ronnie Cohen, the organization’s executive director, said.
