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Kemp says he backs Georgia election reform but won't talk about signing until seeing final bills

Gov. Kemp supports photo ID requirements and making changes necessary to ensure future elections are secure.

Published: March 3, 2021 12:24pm

Updated: March 3, 2021 9:48pm

Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday that supports effort in the state legislature to pass election reform measures, including a voter-ID measure, but won't commit to signing any bills into law until he sees the final product.

"The process is still ongoing (but) I believe at the end of the day, we're going to do election reform here," Kemp said on "Just the News AM." "I think it's incumbent on us to let people know we've heard those concerns and we're addressing those as we move forward."

The Georgia House on Monday passed Republican-backed legislation that attempts to limit access to absentee and early voting, in addition to other restrictions. The measure now goes to the state Senate. If passed and enacted into law, the voters would be required to show a driver's license or other proof of ID to vote absentee in the state.

Kemp pointed out the state House and Senate are each working on separate versions of voting-reform bills and that they are "different in some ways" and still "crossing over" between chambers. 

Kemp also said that he, like others Georgians, are waiting to see whether college football hero and conservative Herschel Walker will return to the state to run for Senate. 

"Same thing you've heard – rumors," he told show host Sophie Mann. 

In January, Georgia's two GOP senators were defeated in runoff elections, a turning point in the once-reliable Red state.

The Georgia presidential race went to Biden after 28 years of voting for Republicans and the both Senate seats went to Democrats after 16 years of solid Republican candidates.

The one Democratic winner of the Senate runoff, Raphael Warnock, was victorious in a special election, so he'll face reelection next year.

"Herschel has been a good supporter of mine, obviously a great Georgia Bulldog" football player," Kemp said. "Whether his interest in politics is real or not – we'll see.

Kemp also said he thinks Walker lives in Texas "so he would obviously have to move back to Georgia to be eligible to run." And he said next year's race other good Republican politicians are also thinking about running, including former Sen. Kelly Loeffler and former Rep. Doug Collins.

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