The White House has defended President Joe Biden‘s “Jim Crow in the 21st century” comments after the state of Georgia set early turnout records in the midterm elections.
Biden made several allusions to Jim Crow after Georgia passed new election integrity laws in 2021, saying the laws were an act of voter suppression. But with the state setting new records for early voting this fall, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked if Biden was wrong in his assessment.
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“High turnout and voter suppression can take place at the same time,” Jean-Pierre responded. “They don’t have to be — one doesn’t have to happen on its own. They can be happening at the same time.”
Georgia has surpassed 1 million early votes, with key races pitting Gov. Brian Kemp (R) against Democrat Stacey Abrams and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) against embattled GOP challenger Herschel Walker. Early turnout in the Peach State is up 70% from 2018 and is on par with the 2020 presidential election.
Jean-Pierre alluded to the Hatch Act to say she cannot delve too deeply into election issues but said voter suppression efforts remain a threat.
“The president has been very clear that based on the big lie, there have been a host of anti-voting policies by states that challenge America’s fundamental right to vote,” she said. “This goes against our most basic values.”
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Asked if the White House had observed specific instances of voter suppression in Georgia or elsewhere, the press secretary again pointed to legislation such as Georgia’s voter integrity laws.
