Georgia’s Election Board with GOP Ties Calls for Review of 2020 Election Results

Four years following the 2020 election, Georgia’s State Election Board, now aligned with the GOP, has voted 3-2 to request the state’s attorney general investigate Fulton County over its handling of the vote. This move reflects ongoing Republican concern over the 2020 election and comes after a rally in Atlanta over the weekend where former President Donald Trump reiterated unproven claims about winning Georgia, despite President Joe Biden’s victory that year by a narrow margin. Trump commended the State Election Board during the same rally.
It is uncertain whether Attorney General Chris Carr, a Republican whom Trump has criticized, will take action. If Carr does not act, the board may attempt to hire an outside lawyer for an investigation. The potential outcomes of such an inquiry are unclear, but a provision in a contested 2021 law allows the board to assume control of election administration in individual counties, primarily targeting Fulton County due to a previously noted lack of intentional misconduct but poor election management.
Three Republican members who support Trump now dominate the five-member regulatory board, responsible for establishing election rules and addressing violations but not determining election results. Some activists are advocating for criminal charges against county officials and access to paper ballots from the 2020 election for a citizen review similar to one in Arizona in 2021.
In a previous inquiry resolution from May, the board determined that Fulton County had mistakenly double-counted some votes, but other concerns such as missing electronic ballot scans remain unresolved. Wednesday’s decision is anticipated to lead to legal challenges, as Fulton County’s election board has refused to participate further, citing the finality of the May resolution and legal restrictions on pursuing additional actions on the same charges.
The state board’s chair attempted to prevent the action, citing a warning from the Attorney General about its legality. However, a board member indicated legal advice had been received from the state GOP allowing the move to proceed. This decision marks the second instance of state Republican Party involvement in advising the board on actions. A separate issue arose when the board declined to vote on a monitoring team proposed by the Secretary of State and Fulton County, creating additional tensions.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, removed from the board in 2021 and his non-voting role this year due to GOP criticism of his support for Biden’s Georgia win, has refrained from commenting on the recent board decisions. Trump praised the three GOP board members at the rally for their efforts towards honesty and transparency, criticizing others on the board.