Georgia Republicans appeal judge’s decision on new election rules

[Lauren Taylor]

GEORGIA REPUBLICANS ARE APPEALING A JUDGE’S DECISION – TO STRIKE DOWN NEW ELECTION RULES PASSED BY THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATE ELECTION BOARD.

THE RULES INCLUDE REQUIRING THE HAND COUNTING OF PAPER BALLOTS TO ENSURE THE TOTALS RECONCILE WITH THE VOTING MACHINE ALONG WITH ENSURING THE NUMBER OF VOTERS MATCHES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BALLOTS CAST.

ON TUESDAY, FULTON COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE THOMAS COX DECIDED TWO RULES VIOLATED STATE LAW: ONE REQUIRING ELECTION OFFICIALS TO CONDUCT A “REASONABLE INQUIRY” INTO RESULTS BEFORE CERTIFICATION, AND ANOTHER ALLOWING THEM TO EXAMINE ALL ELECTION-RELATED DOCUMENTATION PRIOR TO CERTIFICATION.

JUDGE COX SAID THE ELECTION BOARD’S “RULES ARE ILLEGAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND VOID.”

NOW, ATTORNEYS FOR THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND GEORGIA REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE APPEALING THE JUDGE’S RULING DIRECTLY TO THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT.

RNC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL WHATLEY SAID IN A STATEMENT:

“YESTERDAY, A FULTON COUNTY JUDGE EXEMPLIFIED THE VERY WORST OF JUDICIAL ACTIVISM. BY OVERTURNING THE GEORGIA STATE ELECTION BOARD’S COMMONSENSE RULES PASSED TO SAFEGUARD GEORGIA’S ELECTIONS, THE JUDGE SIDED WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN THEIR ATTACKS ON TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS. WE HAVE IMMEDIATELY APPEALED THIS EGREGIOUS ORDER TO ENSURE COMMONSENSE RULES ARE IN PLACE FOR THE ELECTION – WE WILL NOT LET THIS STAND.”

THE GEORGIA SUPREME COURT CAN REVIEW ELECTION CONTEST CASES WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE INTERMEDIATE COURT. THE SUPREME COURT MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO REFUSE THE APPEAL.

MEANWHILE, EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY IN GEORGIA. MORE THAN 365,000 BALLOTS HAVE BEEN CAST IN THE SWING STATE SINCE EARLY VOTING OPENED ON TUESDAY, USA TODAY REPORTS.