In a controversial decision, the Georgia State Election Board voted 3-2 on Friday to require counties to hand-count the number of ballots cast on Election Day, a move opposed by both parties and top GOP officials. The rule, backed by Trump-aligned board members, will add a manual count of ballots to ensure accuracy, despite warnings from Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and the state attorney general that it could lead to chaos and legal challenges.
Critics argue that this last-minute rule change, just weeks before the election, could delay results and create unnecessary confusion in one of the country’s key battleground states. The hand count will only involve tallying ballots, not recounting votes, but election officials fear that the additional steps could burden polling staff and slow down the reporting process.
Supporters of the rule, including board member Janelle King, argue it will ensure transparency and prevent allegations of fraud. However, election experts and officials warn that manual counting has been proven to be more error-prone and time-consuming, further complicating an already tight election schedule.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr’s office advised that the new rule likely exceeds the board’s legal authority and could be overturned if challenged in court. Secretary Raffensperger expressed frustration, saying the new rule contradicts efforts to streamline elections and deliver faster results to voters.
With early voting beginning in mid-October, the rule’s timing and potential legal challenges could have significant implications for Georgia’s upcoming races, including the presidential election and high-stakes state races.
