News in brief: election law court ruling, another road closure

*A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against a new state law banning anyone from handing out free food and drinks to people waiting in line to vote. The AJC reports Judge J.P. Boulee also ruled that counties cannot reject absentee ballots that do not include the birth date of the voter. But he upheld provisions of state law prohibiting “ballot harvesting” and imposingnrestrictions on the locations and hours of operation of drop boxes.

*Georgia DOT and contractor GP Inc. will close one lane of traffic for several hours a day both east and westbound on Georgia 316 in Barrow County starting Monday and continuing for about a month. Right lanes and shoulders will be closed beginning at the intersection of Harry McCarty Road and ending at Harrison Mill Road. The contractor will be paving shoulders and installing guardrails. The hours are: Monday to Thursday from 8 p.m. to 5:50 a.m.; Friday to Saturday 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; Saturday to Sunday 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.; Saturday to Monday 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.