AP: “The Georgia State Board of Elections plans to appoint a review panel this week as part of a process that could lead to a takeover of elections in the state’s most populous county under a provision in the state’s sweeping new election law.
Republican lawmakers cited the new law when they asked the state board last month to appoint the performance review board to investigate Fulton County’s handling of elections. The board plans to appoint the panel during its meeting Wednesday.
The heavily Democratic county includes most of the city of Atlanta and is home to about 11% of the state’s active registered voters. Former President Donald Trump fixated on the county after his narrow loss last year in Georgia, pushing unfounded claims of fraud as evidence the election was stolen from him.
The GOP lawmakers seeking the review say they are concerned about sloppiness in the administration of the county’s elections and want a review board to assess whether local officials have been complying with state voting laws and regulations.
Democrats and voting rights activists have said the new takeover provision in state law leaves the door open for political interference in the electoral process and could allow suppression of votes. They’ve said the county conducted a successful election last year and the review is unnecessary.”
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