(Cupventi.com) – Democrats have filed a lawsuit against the Georgia state election board, arguing that new rules approved by the board in July 2024 could disrupt the election certification process and potentially create chaos on Election Day. The lawsuit contends that these measures, which allow local election officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results, are illegal and could lead to delays and uncertainty in the election process.
The legal challenge was brought forward by local election officials, political candidates, the Democratic National Committee, and the Democratic Party of Georgia, with backing from Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. This action follows a 3-2 vote by the state election board to implement rules that would permit local officials to investigate purported election irregularities before certification and require county officials to review all election-related documentation before finalizing results.
The plaintiffs argue that these rules give the impression that local election officials have discretionary power over whether to certify results, which could undermine established procedures for addressing allegations of fraud. The lawsuit highlights the potential for these new requirements to introduce substantial uncertainty and invite chaos, particularly given that some local election officials in Georgia have already attempted to delay or refuse certification.
As the political climate in Georgia intensifies, with polls showing a tightening race between Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump, the actions of the state election board have come under increased scrutiny. The lawsuit emphasizes that delaying certification could result in the disenfranchisement of eligible voters and calls for the court to clarify that certification is mandatory and that disputes should be resolved in the courts, not by local election boards.
Democrats have pointed to the praise members of the state election board received from Trump, who has a history of challenging election results in Georgia. The lawsuit also comes after right-wing election activists gained a majority on the state election board, leading to the adoption of new rules aligned with conservative objectives. These developments have raised concerns among Democrats, voting-rights groups, and some Republicans, who argue that the board has overstepped its authority.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, has also criticized the state election board, stating that these last-minute changes undermine confidence in the election process and place unnecessary burdens on election workers. He emphasized that attempts to impose changes outside of the legislative process could delay results and compromise the integrity of the election.