In a letter to Larry David, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) playfully mocked both former President Donald Trump and the popular TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm. Raffensperger, known for his defiance against Trump during the aftermath of the 2020 election, humorously referenced a plotline in the show.
In the first episode of the latest season of “Curb”, David, who portrays himself, gets into trouble when he offers a friend a water bottle while she waits in line to vote. Surprisingly, he is arrested for violating a state law that prohibits campaigning to individuals in line.
In the show, David expressed his disbelief by stating, “That’s barbaric!” He then questioned the seriousness of the arresting officer.
The controversial law, passed in 2021 following Raffensperger’s refusal of Trump’s requests to help overturn Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia, sparked significant controversy. One provision of the law prohibits anyone other than the poll manager from providing anything, including food or water, to those waiting in line.
Raffensperger justified this provision when it was implemented, pointing out that it was modeled after a similar rule in New York. Interestingly, Georgia faced much more backlash for adopting this rule compared to New York.
In an op-ed, Raffensperger emphasized the importance of the polling place as a peaceful and unbiased environment for voters to exercise their right to vote. He firmly stated that it should be a space free from any kind of pressure or influence, allowing individuals to cast their votes with confidence.
Raffensperger once again finds himself defending the law in a letter that is filled with scathing jokes directed at both David and Trump.
In a letter addressed to Mr. Larry David, the chief elections officer for the State of Georgia conveyed his congratulations to him for being the first and, as far as they know, the only person to be arrested for distributing water bottles to voters within 150 feet of a polling station. Raffensperger then offered an apology for any lack of celebrity treatment Mr. David may have experienced at the local jail, humorously remarking that they have become accustomed to dealing with bigger stars in that regard, making it akin to the TMZ of mugshots.
He went on to say:
Great news for those worried about voting access in Georgia! Even with record turnout, including Leon’s aunt, the waiting times for all voters were less than two minutes.
I understand that you have received a significant amount of attention for your actions in the Georgia election, whether it was desired or not. However, I want to clarify that as the secretary of state, I do not possess the ability to perform miracles or grant pardons, even if you were to contact me and request one.
Yours sincerely,
Brad Raffensperger
Raffensperger emerged victorious in the 2022 Republican primary, overcoming a challenger supported by Trump. He then went on to defeat his Democratic opponent in the general election.
