Practicing Policy Review
The Election Integrity Act of 2021 seeks to solve serious social challenges that undermine confidence in voter participation and elections. These issues stem from issues like voter harassment, election theft or fraud, and uneven voting access. This paper examines the issues within these that are addressed by the policy and its impacts on populations, as well as presents specific recommendations to improve equity and inclusion: Practicing Policy Review.
Social Problems Addressed in the Policy
The policy addresses social problems like voter intimidation and election fraud that erode trust in the democratic system. It also targets disparities in election administration and barriers to voting access. These social issues are reflected throughout the policy.
Section 2 highlights problems with “rampant voter suppression” and “rampant voter fraud” (70-72). Creating a “voter intimidation and illegal election activities hotline” (l71-175) indicates voter intimidation and fraud concerns. Section 2 also observes “significant variations across the state in total number of hours of advance voting” that affect voter access and confidence (84-90).
It is important for a social worker to be concerned since equality of access to voting is social justice and community empowerment. Advocating for the rights of voters is consistent with social work’s dedication to equity and inclusion. Social workers have a professional responsibility to address those policies that perpetuate injustice and to promote systemic changes that redress social disparities (Jansson, 2027). Other issues that could be impacted include heavy workloads taking a toll on the schedules of local officials and on outreach to the community, either improving or diminishing voter participation.
Population(s) Impacted by the Problem
The populations affected by Senate Bill 202 include the voters of Georgia, especially those from vulnerable communities, like racial minorities, as well as low-income citizens who have always been limited in getting to vote. These groups face the problem because systemic problems like voter intimidation, lack of nearby polling places, and restrictive voting laws disproportionately impact them. Others may not feel the same impact because they have more access to voting resources and more barriers to overcome.
This social problem of unequal voting access results in political participation gaps, exacerbating inequities. For example, although the policy claims to encourage uniformity in voting and lessen the burden on election administrators (Section 2, lines 79-82), specific provisions may further entrench inequities. For instance, the more stringent ID laws may prevent some from voting, proving that the policy may have considered those in question, but it has not solved the issues.
Excerpt from the Policy Needing Change
“The Attorney General shall have the authority to establish and maintain a telephone hotline for the use of electors of this state to file complaints and allegations of voter intimidation and illegal election activities. Such hotline shall, in addition to complaints and reports from identified persons, also accept anonymous tips regarding voter intimidation and election fraud. The Attorney General shall have the authority to review each complaint or allegation of voter intimidation or illegal election activities within three business days or as expeditiously as possible and determine if such complaint or report should be investigated or prosecuted” (171-178).
This excerpt provides an appropriate means for voters to bring reports of voter intimidation and election fraud to public officials, thus encouraging further accountability and transparency. Accepting anonymous tips prompts even more people to speak out without fear of retribution. The provision for the Attorney General to expedite complaints allows prompt action to be taken, which is essential in election cases.
However, the extract does not refer to any protection or support for whistleblowers, although their anonymity is guaranteed. The three-business-day review period may not be quick enough in hot election scenarios in which voters need immediate help. There is no legal, enforceable requirement for follow-up results or action to be publicly reported, thus reducing transparency and public confidence.
To improve the excerpt, I suggest that all complaints, including anonymous tips, receive a preliminary review within 24 hours during active election periods to ensure faster response times. I would attach a clause protecting the legal immunity and confidentiality of anyone reporting such intimidation of election fraud to make sure as many people come forward as possible. Lastly, I would ask the Attorney General’s office to regularly publish anonymized summaries of the outcomes of complaints and any actions to be taken to bring more transparency to the process and make it more trusted by the public.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Election Integrity Act of 2021 seeks to address real social problems with voter suppression and election integrity, it can and should do more to protect the marginalized electorate. If mechanisms of complaint were honed and responses were timely and transparent, the policy could more effectively serve the democratic value of equity. Social work professionals must remain vigilant in supporting policies for fair and inclusive voting, which are the source of community empowerment and justice.
References
Georgia Voting Policy, Election Integrity Act of 2021. Senate Bill 202.
Jansson, B. S. (2017). Empowerment series: Becoming an effective policy advocate. Cengage Learning.
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Question 
To Prepare:
- Review Chapter 7 of the Jansson text as needed.
- Review the assigned Georgia voting policy, Election Integrity Act of 2021, from the Learning Resources this week. (ATTACHED)
- You will use this policy to familiarize yourself with the structure of policy documents and the process for policy analysis—an important foundation before you begin your own policy search. Next week, you will select a local or state policy related to the social problem you identified.
- Review the Policy Selection Process document in the Learning Resources this week (ATTACHED). This document outlines the search for and selection of the Election Integrity Act of 2021—you will need to follow a similar process for your own region or state to complete your Assignment next week.
- Identify the social problem(s) addressed in the policy.
- Select an excerpt from the policy that you would change—this could be a small change, like an addition, or a large change, like a complete revision or removal—to better alleviate the social problem.
Practicing Policy Review
QUESTION:
Submit a paper that addresses the following:
- Describe the social problem(s) addressed in the policy.
- Which areas in the policy indicated the social problem(s) to you?
- Why, as a social worker, should you be concerned with the problem(s)?
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- Are there other problem(s) not directly identified that might be impacted, positively or adversely, by the policy?
- Which population(s) is/are impacted by the problem?
- What is the relationship between the social problem(s) and the population(s)? In other words, why are some people impacted by the problem(s) when others are not?
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- How is/are the population(s) taken into consideration in the policy?
- Summarize the excerpt from the policy that you identified as needing change.
- What are the strengths of this excerpt in helping to alleviate the social problem? If you do not see any strengths, that is okay—explain why.
- What are the limitations of this excerpt in helping to alleviate the social problem(s) for the population(s)?
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- What specific changes would you make to the excerpt to alleviate the social problem(s) for the population(s)? You can describe the changes or quote direct policy language you would change.
- Empowerment Series: Becoming An Effective Policy Advocate (See RDP Logins to Access the Textbook)
- Read Chapter 7, “Analyzing Problems in the First Step of Policy Analysis” (pp. 203–244)