Trump-approved Georgia election officials' new rules could spur 'doubt and suspicion'
2024 election rule changes implemented by Georgia officials have drawn bipartisan criticism.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the Georgia State Election Board, led by three Republicans, has introduced new election rules that have sparked widespread criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. There are concerns that these changes might spread misinformation and create chaos in the upcoming November elections. Some critics even fear that these new regulations could be used to manipulate the results, with the possibility of further modifications before Election Day.
Georgia's Republican Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, has expressed frustration over the board's recent actions to alter vote certification procedures so close to the election. “The board's efforts to modify certification requirements at this late stage are chaotic,” Raffensperger told USA TODAY.
One of the new rules, which took effect on August 19, mandates that counties investigate any minor discrepancies between the number of ballots cast and the number of voters before certifying the results. This rule has raised concerns about potential delays and even the risk of failing to certify results.
"Any attempt to delay the process is an opportunity to cast doubt and raise accusations, much like what we saw in 2020,” Kathy Boockvar, a former Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, commented.
This new rule came just days after Raffensperger, known for resisting Donald Trump’s push to overturn the 2020 Georgia results, publicly criticized the board’s timing. Raffensperger accused the board of undermining voter confidence and burdening election officials with last-minute changes.
The new regulations have led to a lawsuit filed by Democrats and Georgia county election officials, seeking judicial clarification on whether state deadlines for certifying election results remain unchanged by the new rules.
Additionally, the board is considering a proposal to require local officials to hand-count every ballot before certifying the results in the coming month.
The three Republicans on the board—Dr. Janice Johnston, Rick Jaffares, and Janelle King—gained majority control in May when King replaced a board member who opposed changes that could question Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. Since then, they have been endorsed by Trump as "pit bulls" advocating for election "victory," implementing a series of new rules that alter Georgia's vote-counting procedures just before the election, including a rule passed on August 6 requiring a "reasonable inquiry" into results before certification.
Board member offended by 'baseless accusations'
The new rules do not permit local officials to extend the certification deadline beyond Georgia’s legal limit of six days post-Election Day. For instance, the August 19 rule clearly states that results must be certified by this deadline.
Board member Janelle King defended the board’s actions in a statement, asserting that the rules are designed to improve the certification process. “My goal is to ensure accurate vote counting and proper election conduct moving forward, not to alter past outcomes,” King stated. “I am deeply offended by the unfounded accusations and intimidation directed at those who appointed us.”
Fellow board members Johnston and Jaffares have not commented on the issue.
'Like changing the rules in the last game of the World Series'
The recent lawsuit acknowledged that while the new rules technically align with the certification deadline, they could still cause delays by encouraging officials to search for any election irregularities. Experts have voiced similar concerns.
"It's really like changing the rules in the last game of the World Series," Kim Wyman, former Secretary of State for Washington, compared the situation. “Adjusting election laws or procedures less than 90 days before an election does not give officials adequate time to prepare,” Wyman said.
The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials, representing over 500 election officials in Georgia, urged the board to cease implementing new rules as election preparation is already underway. “In these crucial times, making last-minute changes only serves to heighten voter anxiety and undermine public confidence in the electoral process,” the association stated.
