The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently reported on the adoption of new rules by the Georgia Election Board that seem to have been suggested by a GOP leader. The rules, which pertain to the processing of absentee ballots, require counties to begin scanning absentee ballots three weeks before Election Day. This change could potentially speed up the counting process and provide more accurate results.
According to the report, the rules were proposed by Ryan Germany, the top lawyer for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who is a Republican. The fact that these rules appear to have been influenced by a GOP leader has raised concerns among critics who worry about potential partisan bias in the election process.
Supporters of the new rules argue that they are necessary to ensure the integrity of the election and to prevent delays in counting ballots. They believe that starting the scanning process earlier will help to avoid the issues that arose during the 2020 election when many absentee ballots were received closer to the deadline, causing delays in the counting process.
However, critics argue that the new rules could potentially disenfranchise voters, particularly those who may be unable to vote in person and rely on absentee ballots. They are concerned that the rules may be part of a broader effort by Republicans to restrict access to voting, especially following the passage of controversial voting laws in Georgia earlier this year.
Overall, the adoption of these new rules by the Georgia Election Board has sparked a heated debate about the fairness and transparency of the election process in the state. As the 2022 midterm elections approach, the implementation of these rules will continue to be closely monitored by both supporters and critics.
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