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Georgia Supreme Court to consider new GOP-backed ballot rules after judge strikes down

Georgia's Supreme Court is considering a judge's decision to invalidate new rules passed by the Republican-controlled State Election Board (SEB), including hand-counting laws.

The Peach State Supreme Court ruled late last week that the Republican National Committee (RNC) announced that it would hear the appeal.

According to reports, the RNC then asked the court to temporarily block Cox's ruling and allow the rules to take effect while it considers the ruling. democratic document.

His decision included a requirement that each precinct's ballots be counted by hand by three separate county employees to ensure the totals matched the machine-counted numbers, as well as a requirement that county commissioners It included a provision directing election results to be certified only after a “reasonable investigation.” Above all, its accuracy.

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Early voting is underway in Georgia, and the state is considering new election strategies. (Getty Images)

Plaintiffs in the case included civil rights groups such as the Georgia Conference of the NAACP and Eternal Vigilance, as well as current and former state officials.

The state Supreme Court said it “lacks jurisdiction over this complaint,” but intends to litigate because of the “issues of seriousness and public importance” it presents. The RNC and its allies, including the Georgia Republican Party, called for an urgent expediting of the appeals process.

With Election Day just two weeks away, Georgia has already broken early voting records just seven days after voting began last Tuesday.

The SEB voted 3-2 on September 20 to pass the rules, with three Republican-appointed members voting in favor of the changes and one voting against them.

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Georgia Supreme Court

The Georgia Supreme Court said it would hear the appeal. (Georgia Supreme Court)

In addition to the two aforementioned rules, the SEB actions Cox struck down include increased ID and documentation requirements for people delivering absentee ballots to drop boxes, and ensuring that votes cast at drop boxes are counted. It included rules mandating video surveillance.

Plaintiffs in this case argued that SEB lacked the authority to enact such rules.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which represented the plaintiffs in the case, said the move “has caused chaos in our democratic system in the run-up to the November election.”

'Illegal, unconstitutional and void': Georgia judge invalidates new election rules after court battle

“Early voting has begun and more than 1 million Georgians have already cast their votes. Judge Cox's ruling prevents mid-game rule changes,” the ACLU said in response to the Republican lawsuit.

Democrats had accused Republican officials of trying to sow doubt and confusion in the election process with the new rules.

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The RNC, led by Chairman Michael Whatley, filed an emergency appeal in the case. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republican skeptics, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, argue that the policy is impossible to implement so close to the election.

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But party officials like Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McCoon argued the rules were necessary guardrails to ensure election security.

“If his decision is upheld, it will significantly reduce the ability of the State Board of Elections to regulate elections and carry out its mission,” McCune said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump and Harris campaigns for comment.

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