Georgia State Election Board to Decide on Disputed Rule Facing Local Opposition

The Georgia State Election Board is poised to vote on a contentious new rule that would require local precincts to perform hand counts of ballots during the upcoming November election. This initiative is designed to ensure that the hand-counted figures correspond with the machine counts prior to the certification of election results.

This measure is just one part of several proposals being considered by the board, whose majority has been shaped by Trump-endorsed Republican members since May. These members are exploring multiple changes to the state’s election processes as the November elections approach.

The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials, a nonpartisan body representing over 500 election officials and staff in the state, expressed significant concerns about these last-minute proposals in a letter sent on Tuesday. The group emphasized that election officials are already focused on training thousands of poll workers and educating the public on the voting process.

“We respectfully ask that these proposed rules, and any other petitions for rulemaking, be tabled until 2025,” the letter stated. The request highlights worries about the potential for confusion and disruption as election officials work tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming vote.

Critics of the proposed hand-counting rule argue that it could lead to delays in reporting election results, could exhaust election workers, and ultimately “undermine the very confidence the rule’s author claims to seek,” according to the election officials. They fear that such a measure might compromise the integrity and efficiency of the electoral process.

Members of the election board did not respond immediately to inquiries about the situation. However, board member Janelle King has previously asserted her commitment to ensuring that every vote is counted accurately and that elections are conducted properly moving forward.

Former President Donald Trump has notably praised King and her fellow board members, Janice Johnston and Rick Jeffares, referring to them as “pit bulls” fighting for electoral “victory.”

On Thursday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger raised his own concerns during an election-related forum. He noted that approximately 2,400 precincts in Georgia would be affected by the hand-counting requirement. He warned that this could result in significant delays in obtaining election results, as well as pose risks to the security of the paper ballots.

“Ninety days before an election, you should not institute major changes to the election process,” Raffensperger stated. “The more moving parts you have, the more chance you have to fail.” His comments underscore the urgency of maintaining a smooth electoral process in the lead-up to November.

This scrutiny comes on the heels of controversial rule changes passed back in August, which have drawn criticism for potentially delaying the certification of results and sowing chaos within the election framework. Still, supporters of the recent changes argue that they aim to enhance accuracy and build public trust in the electoral system.

During the board’s meeting on August 19, former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who served in the Trump administration, defended a rule mandating investigations into even minor discrepancies between the number of ballots cast and the number of registered voters in a precinct before the results can be certified.

“If more ballots show up than voters, good grief, I would think anybody would want to flag and solve that problem as soon as possible,” he stated, advocating for proactive measures in managing any inconsistencies.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit against the board regarding two rules enacted in August. The party contends that these rules could hinder the timely certification of election results. One of the rules requires counties to engage in a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying outcomes, while the other demands the same scrutiny that was discussed by Cuccinelli. The lawsuit primarily focuses on a provision in the rule that permits local election board officials to review election-related documents generated during the voting process.

Georgia Democrats are seeking a judicial ruling to mandate that local officials adhere to the state’s certification deadlines, even in light of the recent changes. To expedite resolution, a trial has been set for October 1.

Source: USA TODAY