Major League Baseball (MLB) has made the decision to move its 2021 All-Star Game and Draft from Atlanta, Georgia, in response to the state’s new controversial voting law.

The events were planned for July of this year at the Atalanta Brave’s Truist Park, with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred opting to relocate them, and a new location yet to be finalised.

Backed by Republicans, Georgia’s new voting law establishes stricter identification requirements for absentee voting, restricts the use of drop-box voting, and makes it a crime for non-poll workers to offer food and water to voters waiting in line.

It is expected that these measures will limit the influence of minority voters in upcoming elections.

Manfred said he believes the decision reflects the values of baseball in the country.

“I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft,” Manfred said.

“Major League Baseball fundamental supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box.

“In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States.

“We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process.

“Fair access to voting continues have our game’s unwavering support,” he said.

Georgia Governor and Republican, Brian Kemp, said the decision has shown the impact of cancel culture.

“Secure, accessible elections are worth the threats,” Kemp said.

“They are worth the boycotts as well as the lawsuits.

“Georgians – and all Americans – should fully understand what the MLB’s knee-jerk decision means – cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included.

“I want to be clear — I will not be backing down from this fight,” he said.

The influence of politics on American sports is not new, however.

In a similar situation, the 2017 NBA All-Star Game was moved from Charlotte, North Carolina, due to the state’s decision to cut anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

The NFL also made the decision in 1993 to move Superbowl XXVII out of Phoenix, Arizona, following the decision from voters in the state to not acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday.