Biden Challenge to New State Voting Laws Hinges on GOP ‘Intent’

The Biden administration injected itself into the controversy around state election law overhauls by challenging Georgia’s new statute, while sidestepping the part of the Voting Rights Act that the U.S. Supreme Court could gut next week.

The Justice Department Civil Rights Division on Friday claimed Georgia lawmakers intentionally discriminated against Black voters in a voting law (S.B. 202) passed this spring that changes absentee voting rules and prohibits handing out food and drinks to people in line to vote.

But the administration decided to fight with one-hand-tied-behind its back, legal analysts said, intentionally eschewing a claim under Section ...