Georgia Judge Declares New Election Rules “Illegal, Unconstitutional and Void”
A judge in Georgia recently issued an order declaring seven new election rules passed by the State Election Board as “illegal, unconstitutional and void.” Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox made this ruling after holding a hearing on challenges to the rules, including ones related to hand-counting ballots and certification of election results.
The State Election Board, controlled by three Republicans endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has been passing rules, mostly concerning post-ballot processes. These rules have faced legal challenges from Democratic Party organizations, local election officials, and other groups. Critics have raised concerns that the rules could be used by Trump allies to delay or cast doubt on election results.
One of the rules blocked by the judge required three separate poll workers to hand-count the number of Election Day ballots to ensure accuracy. Supporters argued that the hand-count would only take extra minutes and not slow down result reporting. However, critics, including county election officials, raised concerns about the burden it would place on poll workers.
The judge also invalidated two other rules related to certification, which some argued could potentially delay or deny certification of election results. Despite these challenges, the State Election Board could potentially appeal the ruling.
Overall, the legal battles over these new election rules reflect ongoing tensions surrounding voting processes and potential impacts on future elections. The judge’s decision to invalidate these rules sets the stage for further debate and potential legal action in the future.
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