Georgia Election Board Approves Controversial Hand-Counting Rule Ahead of Election

 

With just 46 days until the election, Georgia's state election board has approved a new rule requiring a hand count of paper ballots cast on election day. This decision, made by the board's majority members aligned with Donald Trump, has raised concerns among voting experts and local officials.

The rule mandates that three individuals in each precinct must verify machine vote tallies by hand-counting the results, despite warnings from the state attorney general that this could exceed the board’s legal authority. Chair John Fervier and Democratic appointee Sara Tindall Ghazal opposed the rule, emphasizing the risks involved. “We are going against the advice of our attorney,” Fervier stated.

Critics argue that hand-counting is time-consuming, costly, and less reliable than machine counts. Marisa Pyle, a senior democracy defense manager, warned that allowing numerous people to handle ballots could lead to errors and security issues. “Elections staff are begging you to stop,” she urged during the public meeting.

While Donald Trump has praised the board members who supported this rule, local election officials have expressed serious concerns about its implications. Some fear that the new procedures could lead to delays in counting and certification, which is required by state law to be completed by midnight on election day.

The board also discussed additional proposed rules, including allowing greater access for poll watchers and tracking absentee ballots. However, they chose not to implement daily hand counts of early voting ballots, which many officials believe could add further complications.

Local elections directors have voiced their frustrations, arguing that changes made so close to the election could overwhelm already strained resources. Travis Doss, president of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials, stated, “Our main concerns are the timing of these rules.”

As mail-in ballots begin to go out on September 21 and early voting starts on October 15, state officials worry that these last-minute changes could cause confusion and inaccuracies in the election process. Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, criticized the timing of the board's actions, stating that rule changes should be made well in advance to ensure proper implementation and training for poll workers.