A coalition of civil rights groups has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Georgia's sweeping new voting restrictions, arguing that the Republican-backed law is intended to make it harder for people – particularly Black voters – to cast ballots.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden accused Republicans there and in other states of mounting a broad assault on voting rights.

What limits does the new law impose?

Among the limits, the law imposes stricter identification requirements for absentee balloting, limits drop boxes for mail ballots, gives lawmakers the power to take over local elections and makes it a misdemeanor for people to offer food and water to voters waiting in line. Long lines to vote are common in Black neighborhoods in Georgia's cities, particularly Atlanta, where much of the state's Democratic electorate lives.

Much of the work administering elections in Georgia is handled by the state's 159 counties. The law gives the State Election Board new powers to intervene in county election offices and to remove and replace local election officials. That has led to concerns that the Republican-controlled state board could interfere with the vote in predominantly Democratic, heavily Black counties like Fulton and Gwinnett.

The new law makes it a misdemeanor to hand out "any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink" to anyone standing in line to vote. Advocates of the law say they are attempting to crack down on political organizations or advocacy groups trying to influence voters just before they cast a ballot. Critics say it's cruel and would penalize even nonpartisan groups or individuals for something as simple as giving water to someone waiting in a long line.

Georgia is the only state in the nation that mandates runoff elections between the top two finishers following general elections in which no candidate achieves a majority. The system came under scrutiny from Republicans after Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won twin runoffs in January. The new law shortens the time for runoffs from nine weeks to four, with lawmakers saying the current span is "exhausting" and needs to be shortened to a "more manageable period."

Experts say the shorter period means less time for early and mail voting.

Sounds of opponents

The legislation has alarmed Democrats, who just months ago celebrated historic wins in the presidential election. 

"It's an atrocity," Biden told reporters on Friday, shortly after comparing the restrictions to racist "Jim Crow" laws that for decades kept Black Southerners from full voting rights.

He has urged Congress to pass Democratic-backed legislation that would require automatic registration, expand absentee voting and temper voter ID laws. Thus far, Republican opposition in the divided U.S. Senate has stymied that effort.

Black voters were a major force in Democratic success in recent elections, with roughly 88 percent voting for Biden, according to exit polls.

The federal lawsuit by civil rights groups said that the law violates the First and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, as well as parts of the federal Voting Rights Act that say states cannot restrict Black voter participation.

"These provisions lack any justification for their burdensome and discriminatory effects on voting," the lawsuit said.

"Instead, they represent a hodgepodge of unnecessary restrictions that target almost every aspect of the voting process but serve no legitimate purpose or compelling state interest other than to make absentee, early, and election-day voting more difficult - especially for minority voters."

(With input from AP and Reuters)