A Georgia judge has issued a temporary block on a rule that would have mandated election officials to manually count ballots after they were machine-tabulated, a move celebrated by Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. The rule, set to take effect on October 22, was seen by Democrats as an attempt to delay election results and cast doubt on the outcome.
The ruling, praised in a joint statement by Democratic Party officials, highlighted concerns about the lack of preparation and training for election workers to implement the new procedure. The judge, while not disputing the rule's intent, criticized the State Elections Board for making last-minute changes so close to Election Day, citing potential administrative chaos.
While Georgia Republicans and allies of former President Trump viewed the rule as a safeguard to enhance voter confidence, the judge expressed reservations about the handling of paper ballots by multiple individuals without adequate measures in place to ensure the integrity of the process.
The decision to block the rule reflects the ongoing legal battles surrounding election procedures in Georgia, where the 2020 presidential election was decided by a narrow margin. The ruling underscores the importance of upholding fair, legal, and orderly elections while maintaining public trust in the electoral system.
