A judge in Georgia has issued an order pausing a new rule from the Georgia State Election Board that would have mandated officials to hand count the number of ballots cast at each polling place. The decision comes amidst concerns over lack of training, protocols, and budgetary considerations for implementing the Hand Count Rule.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney highlighted the absence of training, protocols for handling write-in ballots, and financial provisions in his order. He emphasized that the potential administrative chaos resulting from the rule is contrary to the obligation of election boards to ensure fair, legal, and orderly elections.
The Hand Count Rule, pushed by the Republican majority on the state election board with support from former President Donald Trump, is facing legal challenges and will be the subject of a separate hearing scheduled for Wednesday. The rule would necessitate officials at polling places to verify the number of ballots recorded by voting machines through a manual count of the ballots cast.
This measure has attracted criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, partly due to the timing of its implementation so close to Election Day. The rule's contentious nature has sparked bipartisan concerns and legal disputes, underscoring the complexities surrounding election procedures and regulations.
