Georgia State Election Board Approves Controversial New Rule Amid Election Concerns

 

On Monday, the Georgia State Election Board approved a new regulation that grants local election officials expanded authority to scrutinize election-related documents post-election. The decision has raised concerns about potential delays and disruptions in the election certification process.

Under the new rule, any member of a county board of elections is authorized to review all documentation related to the election before the results are certified. This regulation could allow individuals to request a broad array of documents, potentially hindering the timely certification of election results. Critics argue that this could enable election deniers to create uncertainty and delay the certification process.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), along with other watchdog groups, has expressed concerns that the rule lacks safeguards against misuse. In a letter to the board, they warned that the new powers could lead to unreasonable and obstructive demands for election documents, which could impede the certification process.

The board's latest move comes amid a series of changes in Georgia's election procedures. Earlier this month, the board approved a rule allowing local boards to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” into election results, although the term “reasonable inquiry” remains undefined.

The new regulation also requires county election boards to meet by 3 p.m. on the Friday following the election to reconcile the number of unique voter IDs with the number of ballots cast in each precinct. Until these discrepancies are resolved, votes cannot be counted. If the results cannot be reconciled, the board can determine an alternative method for vote computation.

The rule was adopted with a 3-2 vote, supported by three Republican members. Janice Johnston, one of the Republicans, defended the rule as a measure to ensure only valid votes are counted. However, dissenting board members, including John Fervier, the board’s Republican chairman, and the lone Democrat on the board, argued that the rule exceeds the board's authority and could lead to unnecessary delays.

Election experts note that minor discrepancies between the total number of votes cast and the number of voter check-ins are not uncommon and are usually addressed in reconciliation reports. Such discrepancies are typically small and do not affect the overall election outcome.

The board is also considering a proposal for manual hand-counting of all ballots cast on election day. Initially proposed by Sharlene Alexander, a Republican board member, the plan faced criticism and was amended by Janelle King, another Republican board member, to allow counting to begin the day after the election. A final vote on this proposal will be deferred until the board's September meeting.

Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, has criticized the new rules, arguing that they could lead to delays and undermine public confidence in election results. "These last-minute changes from unelected bureaucrats could cause serious problems in an otherwise secure and accurate election," Raffensperger said in a statement.

The changes and ongoing debates reflect growing tensions and scrutiny over election procedures in Georgia as the state prepares for the upcoming elections.