Georgia’s secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, has expressed his opposition to proposed election rule changes currently under consideration by the State Election Board. One of the proposals that Raffensperger is against involves counting ballots by hand at polling places on election night. This proposal, which was advanced by the board in July, suggests having three poll workers count ballots at voting precincts to ensure they match the number recorded by voting machines. The board is expected to vote on whether to adopt this proposal on Monday, following a public comment period.
Raffensperger criticized the hand-counting proposal, stating that it would delay the reporting of election results and potentially compromise the chain of custody procedures. He emphasized that last-minute alterations to election procedures outside of the legislative process could undermine voter confidence and add burdens to election workers. The secretary of state has been a vocal advocate for upholding the integrity of elections amidst continued claims of voter fraud by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The proposal to count ballots by hand was submitted by Sharlene Alexander, a member of the Fayette County Board of Elections and Voter Registration. It suggests that three poll workers count ballots in stacks of 50 until they reach a matching total, cross-referencing with other recorded counts. However, Raffensperger’s office had previously instructed county election officials not to conduct hand counts, citing security concerns related to handling of ballots at polling places.
Raffensperger’s opposition to the hand-counting proposal is part of a larger debate over election rules in Georgia. The State Election Board, which consists of five members, has received various rule proposals in recent months, with tensions running high between different political factions. The board is composed of individuals appointed by different authorities, including the state House, state Senate, and political parties.
The State Election Board’s upcoming decision on whether to adopt the hand-counting proposal will have implications for the future of election procedures in Georgia. The disagreement highlights the broader challenges surrounding election integrity and the complexities of the electoral process in the state.