Talking Points Memo: “Election truthers in Georgia got their latest win this week when the Republican-controlled Georgia State Election Board approved another rule that gives county election officials a new way to potentially delay certification. It’s the second time this month that the Trump-friendly board has passed a rule of this type, a particularly worrying development given how close we are to the upcoming presidential election.
There may well be more to come. The board is also considering a rule that would require the hand counting of ballots at polling places. Meanwhile, its actions are meeting ferocious pushback. An association of election administrators, the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials (GAVREO), stated this week that is “gravely concerned that dramatic changes at this stage will disrupt the preparation and training processes already in motion,” leading to mistakes and confusion. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) has slammed the board’s “11th hour” rule changes as “misguided” and likely to stoke “chaos.”
But despite the mounting criticism of the board, even from other Republicans, it seems for the moment ready to plow ahead with additional rule changes — and unlikely to roll back the ones it just approved.
“There haven’t been any consequences yet for this unconventional behavior,” Peter Simmoms, Georgia Policy Strategist at the nonpartisan group Protect Democracy, told TPM. “There’s currently no reason for the board to act any differently.””