You cited a law that says offering cash or goods in exchange for votes is illegal. That is not the same as handing out bottles of water. reread it and tell me what you think. Handing out water bottles to voters already in line by an apolitical group is not illegal but is now in GA though.
Once again... let me post the reality... First some context and information... These food & drink "volunteers" are typically campaign workers. They are wearing shirts and gear promoting their candidate and are also handing out pamphlets promoting their candidate. There are restrictions on canvassing within "X" number of feet of polling stations. Many of these "volunteers" are handing out food & water within the restricted zone despite actively promoting their candidate. You are not allowed to give voters anything of value while promoting your candidate or party. Food and water has a value. This rule is federal law. If there was a group of "independent volunteers" that were not working for a party or campaign handing out food & water which was not being provided by a party or campaign then I would support efforts to hand out food & water to voters waiting in long lines. But this is not the typical situation. I believe there should be some type of independent "get out the vote" organization (approved by the state and not affiliated with a party) should pick up the initiative of handing out food & water on long poll lines -- with clear rules set about no canvassing, etc. But I don't see this happening either.
Where did it say Pizza to the polls were illegal? Why are you so against people handing out water....I go to the polls and have ass clowns hand my pamphlets right outside the polling place... people in lines are well outside the place and can be handed water.
Bottles of water have value and must be purchased in order to hand them out. They are considered items of value. Similarly food has value. The actual problem in Georgia and elsewhere is that these "free food & water" are being handed out by campaign workers who are using the distribution as a form of canvassing in violation within X number of feet of a polling station (as outlined in my post above). This is ignoring they are handing out "items of value".
The law reads: “No person shall solicit votes in any manner or by any means or method...or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector.” The only other state that prohibits the delivery of food and drink during an election in some form is Montana, but specifically if it’s coming from a candidate, political party personnel or volunteers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. No other state has such legislation so far. The LAW SAYS NO ONE!!!!!!!
Good, sources. Which brings the next questions: 1. Were the lines a result of efficiency sabotage on partisan strongholds as done in GOP states? 2. And I'll grant this is a pivot from the original query, why are GOP states following the inferior voting process of a dem state? FWIW: I've considered as you have that it'd be nice to have a national standard for voting, problem is you end up w/a centralized body that determines voting. Imagine if said body was in place and Donnie could corrupt it w/a Dejoy-like figure and/or oversight committee. The decentralized system we now have is imperfect, but I'd rather we have that and strong federal legislation to keep it in check. Sadly GOP scrapped he voting rights act and even if HR1 was ratified, SCOTUS will likely strike it down.
It is legal to hand out pamphlets outside the polling place --- as long as they stay X number of feet outside the polling place. Handing out food and water (which are items of value) are not allowed under federal law in federal elections. Do I support this particular federal law -- if non-partisan organizations hand out food & water to voters while not canvassing or representing a candidate. Not particularly. But as outlined in my previous post on this thread -- the entire system must change to allow independent organizations to hand out food & water to voters.
This is the 4th time you claim some federal law makes it illegal to hand out food or water. States are in charge of elections so please cite the law that you keep claiming exists.