a New Lawsuit The Democratic-backed lawsuit was filed Monday to challenge recent changes to Georgia’s election certification rules.
The lawsuit, which targets the Georgia State Election Commission, argues that a series of last-minute rule changes by the unelected board would create “chaos” in November.
The new rules require local commissions to conduct a “reasonable investigation” before certifying election results, which critics warn could cause delays.
It also said any discrepancies found in precincts must be investigated, and if errors that cannot be corrected are found, local boards must determine how to “fairly count the votes.”
“Through its rulemaking, SEB has sought to turn the simple and mandatory act of certification – verifying an accurate count of the votes – into a broad license for individual directors to pursue any kind of election fraud, potentially delaying certification and displacing long-standing (court-supervised) processes for addressing fraud,” the complaint reads.
The board will be made up of three Republicans, one Democrat and one nonpartisan chair.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the Harris-Waltz campaign Support the lawsuit opposes Georgia committee. The Hill has reached out to Harris’ campaign for comment.
During a virtual meeting last week, about 850 people participated in a conference call where the commission publicly solicited comments for or against the new rules. Election workers, voters and Georgia Democrats said the new rules were excessive and a last-minute decision, but prominent conservative activists voiced their support.
Committee members cautioned others about some of the proposed rules. In discussing a rule that would direct counties and secretaries of state offices to post accessible links to certified electoral rolls, Democrats and independent members of the committee questioned whether the committee has the authority to enact such rules.
“This is outside our authority. Period,” said Sarah Tyndall Ghazal, the committee’s lone Democrat, citing Georgia law: “The secretary of state has sole authority over the management of voter rolls.”
The committee’s bipartisan chairman, John Favier, said the rule would be “in direct conflict” with state law, but the committee voted 3-2 to begin rulemaking on the proposal nonetheless.
Prominent officials commented on the changes to the committee.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (Republican) criticized the committee’s actions:Last-minute attempt to force new activist regulations And earlier this month he said refusing to certify the election results would be unlawful.
But former President Trump He praised the three Republican members of the board. As a “pit bull that fights for honesty, transparency, and winning.”
