Georgia election rules/ hand count ballots/ election night delays/ poll worker burdens/ state election board/ Newslooks/ ATLANTA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Georgia State Election Board has approved a new rule requiring poll workers to hand-count paper ballots after voting, despite opposition from legal experts, election officials, and the secretary of state’s office. Critics argue the rule could delay election night results and strain poll workers. The decision has raised concerns about its legal standing, with some experts warning it could face legal challenges.
Georgia Election Board Approves Hand Count Rule Quick Looks:
- The Georgia State Election Board voted to require hand counting of ballots after voting.
- The decision faced opposition from the attorney general’s office and election officials.
- Critics fear the rule will delay election results and burden poll workers.
- The board’s nonpartisan chair warned that the rule could exceed the board’s authority.
- The hand count is intended to ensure that the number of paper ballots matches electronic tallies.
Georgia Election Board Mandates Hand Count of Ballots Despite Opposition
Deep Look:
Georgia’s State Election Board voted on Friday to approve a controversial new rule requiring poll workers to manually count the number of paper ballots after voting is completed. The rule, which was passed despite warnings from the state attorney general’s office and county election officials, could delay election night results and add new challenges for poll workers.
A Divided Decision
The vote saw three Republican members of the board supporting the measure, while the lone Democrat and the nonpartisan chair opposed it. This rule mandates that ballots — but not votes — be hand-counted by poll workers to ensure the number of ballots matches the tallies from electronic voting machines and scanners.
The decision comes after former President Donald Trump praised some of the board members in a recent rally. As Georgia remains a crucial swing state in the upcoming election, many fear that the rule could be used to sow confusion or cast doubt on the results, especially if Trump loses to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in November.
Opposition and Legal Concerns
In a memo issued before the vote, Georgia’s attorney general’s office advised that no state law allows hand counting of ballots at polling stations, calling the rule “likely impermissible” and cautioning that it would not survive a legal challenge. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger also criticized the rule, saying it would delay election results and introduce logistical risks.
Several election officials raised concerns during the public comment period before the vote, warning that the extra burden on poll workers could lead to delays in reporting results. Janelle King, a board member who helped draft the rule, defended it, saying accuracy should be prioritized over speed.
How It Works
Under the new rule, after voting ends, three separate poll workers must count the ballots in piles of 50 until all three counts match. If a scanner contains more than 750 ballots at the end of voting, poll managers can choose to begin counting the next day. This hand count will only verify the number of ballots cast, not the individual votes themselves.
Critics worry that the rule will slow the process, especially if polling places wait until the hand count is complete before sending memory cards with machine-recorded votes to the central tabulation location.
Nationwide Comparison
Other states, including Illinois, already require a hand count of ballots after voting without significant complaints of delays or security risks. However, Georgia’s implementation of the rule is unique because of the timing and its potential impact on an already contentious election.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission recommends verifying the total number of ballots cast but does not call for hand counting. Georgia’s board considered a similar proposal for early voting locations but postponed that decision until 2025.
Legal Challenges Loom
Two rules passed last month by the Georgia board are already being challenged in court, and this new hand-count requirement could face similar legal scrutiny. The board has been urged to avoid creating new rules so close to Election Day, with ballots already being distributed and poll worker training underway.
Election officials expressed frustration, saying in a letter, “We oppose rules because they are poorly written, inefficient, would not accomplish their stated goals, or go directly against state law.” Despite these concerns, the board moved forward, setting the stage for what could be a drawn-out legal battle.
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