Democrats Challenge Georgia Hand-Count Rule to Secure Election Integrity

Democrats Take Legal Action Against Georgia's Hand-Counting Rule

Democrats are challenging Georgia's State Election Board in a lawsuit filed on Monday over a new regulation mandating hand-counts of ballots from polling places on Election Day. They assert that this rule opens the door for bad-faith actors to falsely claim fraud affecting election outcomes.

Concerns Over Election Chaos

The lawsuit escalates an ongoing conflict between the Democratic Party and the Republican-majority election board. Critics warn that implementing hand-counting, especially with looming deadlines, could disrupt the election process, leading to potential chaos.

• Significant delays in reporting vote counts in larger counties.
• Inadequate training for poll workers on new procedures.
• Heightened risk to the security of ballots.

Democratic lawyers argue that if this rule is not blocked, it would enable opportunistic challenges to electoral outcomes, undermining public confidence.

Expert Opinions on Legal Viability

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's office has previously warned election board members that the new policies may conflict with state law and likely threaten judicial challenges. Concerns cited that these regulations could result in litigation invalidating them, echoing opinions from Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

The heated legal battle marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over voting rights and election processes in Georgia, particularly as we approach the critical elections ahead.