The Georgia State Election Board has approved a new rule that grants local officials more power before finalizing election results. The rule allows local election officials to begin processing and tabulating absentee ballots two weeks before Election Day, in an effort to speed up the reporting of results.
This change comes after Georgia faced criticism for delays in reporting election results during the 2020 presidential election. The new rule will enable officials to start processing the large number of absentee ballots earlier, which is expected to result in quicker and more accurate reporting of results.
The rule was approved by the State Election Board in a 3-1 vote, with the lone dissenting vote coming from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Raffensperger expressed concerns about the potential for leaks of information before the election, but ultimately the board approved the rule to improve efficiency in the election process.
The new rule has been met with mixed reactions from local officials and election experts. Some view it as a positive step towards modernizing the election process and ensuring timely and accurate results, while others are skeptical of the potential for mishandling or leaking of sensitive information.
Overall, the approval of this new rule represents a significant change in Georgia’s election procedures, aimed at improving the efficiency and transparency of the election process. With the implementation of this rule, voters can expect to see quicker reporting of election results in future elections.
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