Georgia State Election Board Faces Barrage of Lawsuits

The Georgia State Election Board (SEB) is currently embroiled in a wave of lawsuits stemming from the recent implementation of several controversial election rules. With critics from both political sides, along with county election boards, seven lawsuits have been filed against the SEB, challenging its authority and the legality of these rules. The board, which operates with five members, has seen these new measures largely supported by three MAGA-aligned members, Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares, and Janelle King, while the chair John Fervier and Democrat Sara Tindall Ghazal have opposed them.

These lawsuits target various aspects of the SEB’s new policies. Among them, the Hand Count Rule, requiring election workers to manually verify ballot counts, has sparked particular contention, with critics arguing it adds unnecessary delays to the process. Other disputed rules include the Reconciliation Reports Rule and Daily Reporting Rule, both passed in September, which increase the workload of election officials.

Several county election boards, including those from Cobb and DeKalb counties, have argued that these measures conflict with Georgia’s existing election laws and impose excessive burdens on election staff. Some also claim that the SEB violated the state’s Administrative Procedures Act by not adequately considering public comments during the rule-making process.

Lawsuits such as Abhiraman v. State Election Board and Crawford v. State Election Board argue that the SEB’s rules interfere with the timely certification of election results and create a risk of undermining voter confidence by casting doubt on the integrity of the election process.

As these legal battles continue, the future of the 2024 election process in Georgia remains uncertain. The outcomes of these cases may significantly impact election procedures and the state’s ability to certify results smoothly.

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