Democrats, supported by Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, have filed a lawsuit to challenge new election rules in Georgia that they argue could lead to post-election chaos in the state. The lawsuit, brought by the Democratic National Committee, the Georgia Democratic Party, and Democratic members of county election boards, targets two rules recently passed by the Georgia State Election Board.
The contested rules allow election officials to conduct a 'reasonable inquiry' before certifying election results and enable county election board members to investigate ballot counts. This legal action comes amid growing concerns over the actions of three Republican members of the state elections board, who have received praise from former President Donald Trump for their recent decisions.
Georgia, a key battleground state, was central to Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Despite Trump's claims of voter fraud, no evidence was found to support his allegations. The Democrats' lawsuit seeks to clarify that election superintendents do not have the authority to delay or refuse to certify election results without a valid judicial order.
The complaint argues that Georgia law has historically treated election certification as a non-discretionary process. Certification is a crucial step in the voting process, serving as the official confirmation of voting results and a final verification with the secretary of state’s office.
The lawsuit highlights concerns that the recent actions of the state election board's Republican members may be politically motivated, particularly following Trump's public endorsement of their decisions. Democrats and voting rights advocates are urging GOP Gov. Brian Kemp to investigate the board members for potential violations of state law.
State Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes has filed a formal state ethics complaint against election board members Janelle King, Rick Jeffares, and Dr. Janice Johnston, alleging that the rules changes made so close to the general election may have breached state regulations. The controversy underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding election integrity and partisan influence in Georgia's electoral processes.
