The Republican lawsuit in Georgia that sought to block counties from opening election offices on Saturday and Sunday to allow voters to hand in their mail ballots in person was rejected by a judge. The lawsuit specifically targeted Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that comprises most of Atlanta and is home to 11% of the state’s voters. Despite the lawsuit, other populous counties that typically vote for Democrats also decided to open their election offices over the weekend to facilitate the hand return of absentee ballots. In Fulton County alone, 105 ballots were received on Saturday at the four designated locations.
Following the rejection of the lawsuit, the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee, and the Georgia Republican Party indicated their intention to sue over the issue. They sent letters to six counties, including Chatham, Athens-Clarke, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett, demanding that all ballots received after Friday be kept separate from other ballots. The legal dispute revolves around a section of Georgia law that addresses the use of ballot drop boxes and the delivery of absentee ballots in person. Despite the clear wording of state law allowing voters to hand-deliver their absentee ballots until the close of polls on Election Day, the lawsuit attempted to restrict this practice.
During the online hearing, lawyer Alex Kaufman argued that voters should be prohibited from hand-delivering their ballots between the end of early in-person voting on Friday and the start of Election Day on Tuesday. This argument was countered by the long-standing practice in Georgia of allowing election offices to accept mail ballots over the counter. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ultimately ruled against the lawsuit, stating that it is not a violation of the relevant code sections for a voter to hand-return their absentee ballots. This decision marked a setback for Republicans who have been critical of election practices in Fulton County.
Republicans, particularly state GOP chairman Josh McKoon, have raised concerns about the conduct of elections in counties controlled by Democrats. McKoon accused these counties of illegally accepting ballots, echoing the false claims made by former President Trump about election fraud in Georgia. The issue gained traction online among Republican activists, especially after a Fulton County official initially stated that observers would not be allowed inside election offices during the ballot-handling process. However, this decision was later clarified, with the official confirming that the process should be open to the public and that no credentials or badges were required. Independent monitoring teams and investigators from the secretary of state’s office were also present to observe the election processes in Fulton County.
Overall, the rejection of the Republican lawsuit in Georgia reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the handling of elections, particularly in counties with significant Democratic voter bases. Despite the legal challenges, efforts to ensure the transparency and integrity of the election process continue, with various parties monitoring the proceedings to ensure compliance with state laws and regulations. The dispute underscores the broader national debate over election integrity and the ongoing scrutiny of election practices in key battleground states.
