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Jimmy Williams
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Party of Georgia are urging a judge to block a new Georgia State Election Board rule that mandates hand-counting ballots cast on Election Day. The Democrats argue that the last-minute rule, passed earlier this month, is unlawful and risks creating “chaos” in the battleground state.
Filed with support from Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, the lawsuit claims the board’s controversial 3-2 decision “changes the rules of the game in the ninth inning” and violates Georgia election laws.
“The Hand Count Rule is contrary to the Election Code and exceeds the Board’s rulemaking authority,” the lawsuit states, adding that the decision undermines election procedures and could disrupt the timely reporting of election results.
The rule requires election workers to manually count the number of ballots cast on Election Day before they are delivered to county offices for tabulation. Critics argue that the rule could delay the reporting of election results unnecessarily.
Bipartisan Opposition Emerges
Although passed by three board members praised by former President Donald Trump, the hand-count rule has drawn opposition from both parties, including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr. Both GOP leaders have questioned the rule’s legality, aligning with Democratic concerns.
DNC acting co-executive director Monica Guardiola criticized the new rule, calling it “a blatant attempt by Donald Trump and his MAGA lackeys on the Georgia State Election Board to cast doubt on our elections and undermine the outcome.”
Quentin Fulks, Harris’ principal deputy campaign manager, echoed these concerns: “We agree with Georgia’s Republican attorney general and secretary of state: This rule is unproductive and unlawful, and we are fighting it.”
Trump-Backed Members Drive the Rule
The three board members who voted in favor of the hand-count rule—Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares, and Janelle King—were appointed by Republican leadership. Trump has publicly praised their decision, describing them as “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency, and victory.” However, they have yet to comment on the legal challenge.
The two members who voted against the measure were appointed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp and the Democratic Party.
Second Legal Challenge Against the Board
This lawsuit marks the second challenge brought by Democrats against the Georgia State Election Board in recent weeks. In August, Democrats filed a suit contesting new rules that allow county election boards to conduct “reasonable inquiries” before certifying election results. Critics argue that vague language around “reasonable inquiry” could lead to delays in certification and further chaos.
A trial for that case is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Fulton County.
