Georgia voters are wavering on whether former President Donald Trump should be allowed to run for the Oval Office again if his alleged election meddling turns out to be true. According to a poll by SSRS, commissioned by CNN, a razor-thin margin of the state's voters are eyed deep political divisions ahead of the 2024 election cycle. Notably, 47% believe Trump should be disqualified from future presidential races if the charges against him are substantiated.
The survey, which included responses from over 1,000 voters and conducted from Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, showed that 52% support the decision to bring criminal charges against Trump. This sentiment may affect the former president's prospects, as the same poll indicated a neck-and-neck preference for Trump (49%) and Biden (44%) if the presidential election were today, with a small fraction eyeing alternative candidates or opting out of voting altogether.
Trump's legal turmoil has expanded beyond Georgia, with Fulton County's indictment being one of several court battles he is embroiled in across the country, including Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia. The federal case links Trump and his supporters to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, outlined by additional conspiracy charges. As reported by WRDW, the Colorado Supreme Court initially barred Trump from its 2024 presidential primary ballot, though this decision is now on hold.
While these legal confrontations unfold outside of Georgia, political strategist Brian Robinson, in a statement obtained by Atlanta News First, emphasized their importance, saying they "will likely still impact Georgia voters," especially those independents who may tip the balance in a state that is projected to have a tight electoral margin. Indeed, the SSRS poll showed that Georgia's electorate is revved up, with 61% claiming to be "extremely motivated" to vote in the next presidential showdown—a sentiment echoing the record voter turnout seen in the 2020 election.
