In a significant ruling, the Georgia Supreme Court has declined to hear an expedited appeal from Republican officials seeking to implement a controversial new rule requiring poll workers to hand-count ballots. The court’s decision effectively blocks a change that voting rights advocates warned could lead to chaos in the upcoming presidential election.
This ruling comes just weeks before the pivotal Nov. 5 election, where Georgia is poised to play a critical role among seven battleground states. The proposed rule, passed by the Republican majority on the Georgia State Election Board, would have allowed county election officials to investigate discrepancies between ballot counts and registered voters, along with requiring poll workers to hand-count ballots immediately after polls closed.
Critics, including voting rights organizations, expressed concerns that this rule would empower rogue election officials to create unnecessary delays or challenges in certifying results, potentially undermining the integrity of the electoral process. The Georgia Attorney General’s office had also indicated that the board may have exceeded its statutory authority in proposing these changes.
Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon voiced disappointment over the court’s ruling, stating, “It is supremely disappointing to observe yet another failure of our judicial system to expeditiously resolve critical questions about our elections process.” He noted that the party would pursue its appeal next year instead.
The case originated from a complaint filed by Eternal Vigilance Action, a conservative group that argued the proposed rules were not only unnecessary but also illegal, contradicting state election law. On October 16, Judge Thomas Cox ruled against the new regulations, highlighting that they overstepped the legal authority of the election board and were in conflict with existing election codes.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which intervened in the case to block the implementation of the rules, hailed the Supreme Court’s decision. “The election board sought to inject chaos and confusion into our democratic system,” the ACLU stated in a release.
With the ruling, Georgia election officials will not gain enhanced powers to challenge precinct-level results, preserving the current protocols leading up to the election. As the state prepares for what could be a decisive election, maintaining clarity and confidence in the electoral process remains a priority for officials and voters alike.
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