Article Summary –
The Republican-controlled state election board in Georgia has approved a rule that could allow local officials to delay certification of November’s presidential election results. The five-member board, including three conservative members supported by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, voted 3-2 to allow county election board members to investigate any discrepancies between the number of cast ballots and the number of voters in each precinct before certification. Critics argue that this rule could allow individual board members to intentionally delay approval of the results, potentially throwing the outcome of the vote into uncertainty.
Republican-Controlled Election Board in Georgia Approves Controversial Rule
Georgia’s Republican-controlled state election board has passed a regulation that critics argue could delay the certification of November’s presidential election results. This could destabilize the voting results of this key battleground state.
The five-strong board, three of whom are conservative members endorsed by Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, voted in favor of authorizing county election board members to investigate discrepancies between cast ballots and number of registered voters in each precinct before certification.
Such inconsistencies are common and rarely indicate fraud, say voting rights supporters. They caution that this rule could allow individual board members to deliberately postpone result approval.
Despite his unfounded claims that the 2020 election was manipulated by fraud, Trump is set to face Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris on November 5. Current polls show a tight race, with Georgia being one of seven states that could sway the outcome.
Less than two weeks ago, the board majority approved a separate rule instructing county election boards to conduct an “inquiry” into any irregularities prior to certifying results. This rule, however, did not define “reasonable” or set a specific inquiry completion deadline.
Voting rights organizations argue these new regulations could give election deniers grounds to reject certification of any election lost by their preferred candidate. Nikhel Sus, an attorney with non-profit watchdog Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington, warned that these rules could potentially grant county board members the power to interfere with the certification process.
Even if certification goes ahead, he added, any doubt cast on the results could serve as a justification to lobby that Congress dismisses them, as some Trump allies did in 2020. Nevertheless, Republican supporters maintain it would merely ensure accurate election results.
Certification was seen as a formality before Trump’s 2020 loss. However, at least 19 election board members across nine counties in Georgia have objected to certifying election results since last year. Local election officials in several other states, including such battlegrounds as Arizona and Michigan, have also voted against certifying results.
The board additionally progressed a rule on Monday necessitating a hand count of ballots in every precinct after polls close. This will be considered in September. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger voiced his opposition last week to these actions by the board’s “unelected bureaucrats”, cautioning that the last-minute changes could destroy voter confidence and stress election workers.
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