Georgia Bill Would Label Licenses Of Legal Immigrants As 'Ineligible Voter' (UPDATED)

ATLANTA, GA — A new bill making its way through the Georgia legislature would mandate that state driver's licenses for legal immigrants be stamped with the word "Ineligible Voter," Patch has learned.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell of Hartwell, originally stipulated that the word "noncitizen" be marked on the driver's licenses of foreigners with permission to be in the U.S.

On Monday, the language of the bill was changed to "Ineligible Voter," and the measure passed the House Public Safety Committee.

The legislation is an amendment; Georgia licenses for legal immigrants already feature the word "limited term."

“We’re not trying to label anybody. We’re not trying to discriminate. We’re just trying to make it plain English where everybody understands,” said Rep. Jason Ridley, a Republican from Chatsworth, a co-sponsor of Powell’s bill, according to the Moultrie Observer.

The "noncitizen" language was recently removed from a bill targeting super-speeders in the state. That bill, filed by Rep. Amy Carter of Valdosta, sailed through approval. Powell then filed his legislation, HB 324, separately.

In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia said House Bill 324 is an "unnecessary and discriminatory piece of legislation."

Another Republican, Sen. Frank Ginn of Danielsville, wants the state licenses of foreign-born residents to be printed in a vertical format, instead of horizontal.

Ginn's Senate Bill 161 would "require horizontal orientations for the form of all drivers' licenses and identification cards issued to applicants who are citizens of the United States." It would conversely "require vertical orientations for the form of all drivers' licenses and identification cards issued to applicants who are not citizens of the United States."

That bill was approved Monday by the Senate Public Safety Committee.

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