Georgia High Court Reject GOP Appeal to Reinstate Election Rules

Georgia High Court Reject GOP Appeal to Reinstate Election Rules \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Georgia Supreme Court rejected a request by Republicans to reinstate election rules recently ruled invalid by a lower court. The decision, stemming from an appeal by the Georgia Republican Party and the Republican National Committee, delays the implementation of the controversial rules until the legal process runs its course. The rules were previously struck down as unconstitutional by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox, with concerns raised about their potential impact on election integrity. The ruling comes just weeks before the November general election.

Georgia Supreme Court Blocks GOP Attempt to Reinstate Election Rules: Quick Looks

• Supreme Court Decision: Georgia’s highest court refused to expedite a Republican appeal, keeping recently invalidated election rules on hold.
• Controversial Rules: Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox had ruled the rules unconstitutional, halting their implementation.
• Timeline Impact: The appeal will move forward through the normal process, likely delaying any resolution until after the November election.
• Democratic Concerns: Democrats worry the rules could enable election delays or disputes, particularly if Donald Trump loses the upcoming election.
• Republican Support: Despite some in-state opposition, the Georgia Republican Party and national GOP have supported the new rules, claiming they enhance transparency.

Deep Look:

The Georgia Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked an effort by state and national Republicans to immediately reinstate recently passed election rules that had been ruled unconstitutional by a lower court. The decision came in response to an appeal filed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Georgia Republican Party after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox declared the new rules “illegal, unconstitutional, and void.”

Judge Cox’s ruling, delivered last week, found that the State Election Board exceeded its legal authority by adopting seven election-related rules in August and September 2024. The board’s decision to implement the rules over the objections of its lone Democrat and nonpartisan chair spurred a wave of litigation. The rules had faced multiple legal challenges ahead of Georgia’s general election, set to take place in November.

Republicans had urged the state’s highest court to expedite their appeal and reinstate the election rules while the appeal was still pending. However, the Georgia Supreme Court declined to fast-track the case or stay Judge Cox’s ruling. The court stated that the appeal would “proceed in the ordinary course,” which means it could take months before any ruling on the case is issued.

Controversial Election Rules and Legal Battles

The contested election rules were introduced by the Republican-majority State Election Board in August and September 2024. The rules were passed with significant opposition from Democratic officials and civil rights groups, who warned that the changes could create uncertainty in the voting process and complicate efforts to certify results. Democrats, particularly, feared that the rules could be weaponized by allies of former President Donald Trump to delay or dispute the election outcome.

One of the central issues addressed by the legal challenges was whether the State Election Board had the authority to implement the rules without legislative approval. Judge Cox, ruling in favor of plaintiffs like Eternal Vigilance Action—a group founded by former state Rep. Scot Turner—concluded that the board had overstepped its authority. As a result, he invalidated all seven rules, ordering the board to notify state and local election officials that they were void and should not be enforced.

Key Rules and Their Impact

Among the invalidated rules was a measure requiring three poll workers to manually count paper ballots after the polls close. Critics argued that implementing such a rule so close to Election Day would create chaos. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney had already blocked this specific rule in a separate case, citing the logistical burden it would impose on election workers.

Two other rules related to election certification were also nullified by Judge Cox. One of the rules required county officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results, though it did not define what such an inquiry entailed. Another rule allowed county election officials to examine election-related documentation during the certification process, raising concerns that it could delay the certification of results.

Additional rules struck down by the court included requirements for delivering absentee ballots, recording and video surveillance of ballot drop boxes, expanding poll watchers’ designated areas, and providing daily public updates on early voting turnout. Republicans had argued that these measures were necessary to increase transparency and accountability in Georgia’s elections, while Democrats viewed them as tactics that could suppress votes or lead to unnecessary delays.

Republican vs. Democratic Responses

The battle over Georgia’s election rules has further highlighted the sharp divide between Republicans and Democrats in the state. While some prominent Republicans, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have expressed concern about the timing and necessity of the last-minute changes, the Georgia Republican Party and the RNC have staunchly supported the State Election Board’s efforts. In their view, the new rules would help safeguard the integrity of elections by improving transparency and oversight.

Democrats, on the other hand, celebrated Judge Cox’s ruling as a victory for voting rights. They feared that the new rules could be exploited by Trump’s allies to cast doubt on election results, particularly if Trump were to lose the presidential race to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Many Democrats remain wary of attempts to challenge or obstruct the certification process in light of Trump’s previous efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Future Legal and Electoral Implications

With the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision to handle the appeal through its regular process, it is unlikely that the disputed rules will be in place for the November general election. Instead, the state will likely proceed under its existing election laws, which have already been tested in previous elections.

As the legal challenges continue, election officials across Georgia are bracing for what is expected to be another highly contentious and closely watched election. Judges have acted quickly to address legal disputes in recent weeks, with several additional hearings scheduled before Election Day.

The conflict over Georgia’s election rules comes at a time when election integrity remains a central issue in national politics. While Republicans push for measures they say will improve transparency, Democrats warn that such efforts often serve as a pretext for voter suppression.

With Georgia once again poised to play a critical role in the upcoming presidential election, the outcome of these legal battles could have far-reaching implications for the state and beyond.

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