Georgia Democrats Demand Removal of Election Board Members Over Integrity Concerns

They Want Them OUT - Trump Allies REMOVED?!

Georgia Democrats demand removal of election board members, citing integrity concerns and controversial rule changes.

At a Glance

  • Democrats call for removal of three State Election Board members over new rules affecting election certification
  • Lawsuit filed arguing new rules violate state law and could lead to unnecessary delays
  • Board members’ ties to former President Trump add political dimension to the dispute
  • Governor Kemp seeks legal opinion on his authority to remove board members
  • Controversy reflects ongoing national debate on election integrity and transparency

Democrats Challenge New Election Rules

Georgia’s election landscape is heating up as Democrats demand the removal of three State Election Board members, citing concerns over election integrity and controversial new rules. The dispute centers on recently adopted regulations that could potentially allow county officials to delay or refuse certification of election results, sparking a heated debate over the balance between election security and the smooth functioning of the democratic process.

The state and national Democratic parties have filed a lawsuit to block two recent rules adopted by the board. These rules require county officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results, which Democrats argue could lead to unnecessary delays and disruptions in finalizing state results.

Legal Challenge and Political Implications

The lawsuit contends that the new rules violate state law, which mandates certification as a mandatory duty. Democrats assert that the State Election Board has exceeded its legal authority by implementing these changes. Adding to the controversy is the fact that the board is now dominated by allies of former President Donald Trump, raising concerns among Democrats and voting rights activists about potential partisan motivations behind the rule changes.

“According to their drafters, these rules rest on the assumption that certification of election results by a county board is discretionary and subject to free-ranging inquiry that may delay certification or foreclose it entirely. But that is not the law in Georgia,” states the lawsuit, filed in Fulton County Superior Court.

Democratic U.S. Rep Lucy McBath has been vocal in her criticism, accusing the board of creating barriers to vote counting and certification that could benefit Trump in future elections. The political dimension of this dispute is further underscored by Trump’s recent praise for the board members at a rally, where he referred to them as “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory.”

Governor’s Role and Broader Implications

The controversy has now reached the desk of Governor Brian Kemp, who is being urged to remove the board members. However, the extent of his authority in this matter is unclear, prompting Kemp to seek an opinion from the Attorney General. This development adds another layer of complexity to an already contentious situation.

This dispute in Georgia is part of a larger national conversation about election integrity and transparency. It reflects ongoing tensions in the state since the 2020 presidential election and subsequent passage of election measures like Senate Bill 202, known as the Election Integrity Act of 2021. As the debate unfolds, it’s clear that the outcome will have significant implications for Georgia’s electoral process and could potentially influence approaches to election administration in other states.

Sources

  1. Democrats sue to block Georgia rules that they warn will block finalization of election results
  2. Georgia Election Board Faces Pressure From Both Sides
  3. Democrats sue to block Georgia rules that they warn will block finalization of election results
  4. Georgia Dems demand governor remove three election board members
  5. Georgia Election Board Faces Pressure From Both Sides

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