A hearing was held in Fulton County Superior Court regarding a lawsuit filed by the Cobb County Board of Elections against the State Elections Board. The lawsuit revolves around new rules imposed by the SEB, including a requirement for hand counting of ballots to ensure accurate machine tabulation. The rule has also led to a separate lawsuit filed by Georgia Democratic officials. During the hearing, the SEB argued that there were no restrictions on when election rules could be passed, while the judge expressed concerns about the timing of the rule changes. Republicans view the hand-counting rule as essential for election integrity, while Democrats believe it sows doubt in the process.
The Cobb County lawsuit argued that the rules put elections boards across the state in an untenable position, with state officials, including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, expressing concerns about the impact of the rule changes. An attorney representing the plaintiffs pointed out the challenges posed by the hand-counting rule, particularly for poll workers who already have long hours on election days. The judge suggested that the hand-counting could be done the following day, but the attorney highlighted the logistical challenges that would entail.
Despite concerns raised by the plaintiffs regarding potential delays and resource drain caused by the hand-counting rule, the SEB attorney criticized their arguments as speculative and based on conjecture rather than imminent threats. The judge noted that the rule does not directly interfere with the certification work but acknowledged that it would be a resource drain. He expressed concerns about the chaotic effects of the rule’s last-minute adoption.
The judge also issued a ruling in a separate Georgia elections case on the same day, stating that county elections supervisors are not allowed to delay the certification of results based on their suspicions of fraud or mistakes. As the November 5th election approaches, a flurry of lawsuits around vote count and voter access is expected, as is common during presidential election cycles. Both parties are engaged in legal battles over election rules and procedures in Georgia, with Republicans and Democrats holding opposing views on the hand-counting rule and its implications for election integrity.
Overall, the legal proceedings highlight the discord and contentious nature of the 2024 election in Georgia. The lawsuits illustrate the divergent perspectives of the two major parties on election rules and procedures, with the judge balancing concerns about the timing and impact of the hand-counting rule against the need for election integrity. The outcome of these legal battles will have significant implications for voter access and confidence in the election process in Georgia.
