Georgia Election Board Mandates Hand-Counting of Ballots on Election Day, Raising Concerns Over Election Delays and Accuracy

Georgia Election Board Votes to Require Hand-Counting of Ballots on Election Day

ATLANTA — In a decision that could significantly delay the reporting of election results, the Georgia State Election Board voted on Friday to mandate counties to hand-count all ballots cast on Election Day. The 3-2 vote was carried by board members who have been publicly recognized by former President Donald Trump.

The decision has sparked controversy, with opposition coming from various quarters including state Democrats, Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. “I want to make on the record that we’ll be going against the advice of our legal counsel by voting in the affirmative,” noted Georgia election board chair John Fervier before voting on the motion.

Fervier, along with Sara Tindall Ghazal, the lone Democratic appointee on the panel, voted against the rule. This new measure is the latest in a series of policies introduced by officials over the past three months.

New Powers and Legal Challenges

Just last month, the board gave local officials more authority over certifying the election, a move that opponents argue could potentially disrupt the process, especially if Trump faces a loss in November. This prompted the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Party of Georgia, and several individuals to file a lawsuit challenging these new rules.

The new rule stipulates that the number of paper ballots, rather than the number of votes, must be counted at each polling place by three separate poll workers ensuring all three counts match. If a scanner ends up with more than 750 ballots inside by the end of voting, the poll manager has the discretion to start the count the following day.

Concerns from Election Officials

During the public comment period before the vote, several county election officials voiced their concerns. They warned that counting ballots by hand at polling places could delay election night results reporting. Additionally, it would burden poll workers who have already endured a long day.

A memo sent to election board members by the state’s Attorney General Chris Carr on Thursday pointed out that no state law provides for hand-counting ballots at the precinct level before bringing them to the county election superintendent for vote tallying. The memo concluded that the rule is “not tethered to any statute” and is “likely the precise kind of impermissible legislation that agencies cannot do.”

Different Views on the Rule

Republican board members who supported the new rule defended it as a reasonable measure to ensure the accuracy of the election results. “We’re not asking for a full election audit,” said Janice Johnston during the meeting in Atlanta. “We’re just asking for a reasonable inquiry.”

There are concerns that adding hand counting alongside machine counting could introduce errors and confusion into the process. It also poses potential risks to ballot custody. If starting hand-counting on election night, poll workers would have to open sealed boxes of completed ballots, potentially exposing them to fraud or loss. In previous elections, ballots remained sealed and securely stored unless a recount was ordered.

The debate over this rule highlights the ongoing conflict and complexity surrounding election processes in Georgia. With lawsuits pending and various concerns yet to be addressed, the implementation of this rule promises to be a closely watched and heavily scrutinized aspect of the upcoming elections.