Evans Examiner: The Special Session Recap

The Special Legislative Session has come to a close, and I wanted to share a final update on what transpired under the Gold Dome.

A Power Grab, Stopped!

When Governor Kemp called lawmakers back to Atlanta, many feared Republicans would use the session to redraw voting maps and weaken the political power of communities they struggle to win over at the ballot box. Thanks to public scrutiny, advocacy, and a united effort by House Democrats, those maps never came to the floor.

That is an important victory.

This session demonstrated what can happen when Georgians pay attention and make their voices heard. A proposal that seemed inevitable just weeks ago was stopped before it could become law.

But we should not mistake a delay for a defeat.

The effort to manipulate district lines for political advantage has not disappeared. As I said throughout this session, we must remain vigilant. If another attempt is made to redraw maps after the next election or in a future special session, I will be there fighting to ensure that every Georgian's vote carries equal weight.

The Fight Over Veto Overrides

Unfortunately, one of the most disappointing moments of the session came during the debate over the Governor's vetoes.

Earlier this Special Session, I made a motion to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 1192. The measure was part of a broader effort by House Democrats to force votes on bipartisan legislation that had passed the General Assembly with overwhelming support. These included investments in retirees, domestic violence shelters, rural healthcare, child abuse reporting systems, and other priorities that had received near-unanimous support from legislators on both sides of the aisle.

My motion was tabled, and so never come up for a vote.

While I was disappointed by the outcome, I was even more disappointed that legislative leaders chose to protect the Governor's vetoes rather than stand behind legislation that many of them had previously voted to support.

A Republic Requires Shared Power

This week also marked the anniversary of the adoption of the Pledge of Allegiance. The pledge reminds us of our commitment to a republic—a government where power is shared, accountability matters, and no single person is above the institutions that serve the people.

That principle is worth remembering today.

Our state constitution gives the General Assembly the authority to override a governor's veto for a reason. It is a safeguard designed to ensure that no branch of government becomes too powerful. When legislators refuse to exercise that authority—not because the legislation lacks merit, but because it is politically inconvenient—they abdicate a responsibility entrusted to them by the people of Georgia.

Checks and balances only work when each branch is willing to fulfill its constitutional role.

If you'd like to hear my remarks directly, you can watch my speech below.

Changes to Georgia’s Election Laws

While much of the attention during this special session focused on the possibility of redistricting, lawmakers also approved legislation making changes to Georgia's election procedures—SB3EX.

Supporters argued the bill was necessary to address concerns related to the QR codes used in Georgia's voting system. However, the final legislation went beyond a technical fix. The bill included in the measure were new hand-counting requirements that will require election workers to manually count ballots in addition to existing procedures.

I have concerns about these changes.

Georgia's elections are already subject to extensive audits, testing, and security measures. Adding new hand-count requirements risks creating opportunities for human error (between 9-25%!), increasing costs, and delaying election results without providing meaningful improvements to election security.

At a time when many Georgia families are focused on rising costs, access to healthcare, and strengthening our schools, I believe our legislature should be focused on solving real problems rather than revisiting election conspiracy theories that have repeatedly been disproven.

Georgians deserve elections that are secure, accurate, and trusted by the public. That trust is built through transparency, professionalism, and facts—not by creating additional opportunities to cast doubt on election outcomes after votes have already been counted.

I will continue advocating for election policies that protect both the integrity of our elections and every Georgian's right to have their vote counted fairly and accurately.

Looking Ahead

Despite the challenges of this session, I remain optimistic. We stopped an effort to redraw voting maps. We forced important conversations about accountability and democratic institutions. And we demonstrated that organized citizens can still influence what happens at the Capitol.

Thank you for following this session, staying engaged, and holding your elected officials accountable. The work of protecting our democracy and strengthening our communities continues long after the gavels come down.

As always, I will keep fighting for fair representation, transparent government, and policies that put people first.

Sincerely,

Stacey