Judge pauses rule that would require Georgia counties to hand-count ballots
Source: CNN Politics
Updated 10:55 PM EDT, Tue October 15, 2024
CNN A judge in Georgia has paused a new rule from the Georgia State Election Board that would have required officials to hand-count the number of ballots cast at each polling place, criticizing state election officials for approving it so close to Election Day.
No training has been administered (let alone developed), no protocols for handling write-in ballots
have been issued, and no allowances have been made in any countys election budget for additional personnel and other expenses required to implement the Hand Count Rule, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney wrote in his order Tuesday. The administrative chaos that will not may ensue is entirely inconsistent with the obligations of our boards of elections (and the SEB) to ensure that our elections are fair, legal, and orderly.
The new hand-counting rule which had been set to take effect October 22 would require counties to count by hand the number of ballots cast at a polling place, to make sure it matches the number of ballots tallied by voting machines. The hand-counters, however, wouldnt be tallying how many votes each candidate received, as thats what the machines do.
Democrats cheered the ruling Tuesday evening. From the beginning, this rule was an effort to delay election results to sow doubt in the outcome, and our democracy is stronger thanks to this decision to block it. We will continue fighting to ensure that voters can cast their ballot knowing it will count, the Harris campaign, Democratic National Committee and Democratic Party of Georgia said in a joint statement.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/15/politics/georgia-hand-count-ballots-judge-paused/index.html
oldsoftie
(13,461 posts)JohnSJ
(95,424 posts)for now.
BumRushDaShow
(139,708 posts)the "pause" was for this election only because the change was done "too close to election day" (and obviously early voting has started there now). But it could be reinstated for future elections as it goes through appeals, and depending on future rulings.
JohnSJ
(95,424 posts)Marthe48
(18,618 posts)I seriously doubt Dems or nontrump reps will push for something as stupid as this is.
BumRushDaShow
(139,708 posts)bluestarone
(17,949 posts)After Kamala wins, we probably will never hear anymore about this from this board!
Old Crank
(4,428 posts)be at every counting of the ballots at every required location to oversea them all.