Democrats want the judge to block the Georgia State Board of Elections’ request for newly admitted counties. counting ballots by hand He voted on Election Day, arguing that the eleventh-hour move was illegal and would cause “chaos” on the battlefield.
The board’s controversial 3-2 vote this month “changes the game in the ninth inning,” reads a lawsuit filed by the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Party of Georgia, backed by Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. .
“Overall, the Hand Count Rule is inconsistent with the Election Code, exceeds the Board’s legislative authority,” and “violates fundamental restrictions on agencies intended to avoid the exact scenario here—an unelected body unilaterally making significant changes to the law without notice.” or explanation,” the lawsuit says.
“To preserve the sanctity of state law and prevent election night chaos, this Court must declare that the Hand Count rule exceeds the SEB’s statutory authority and enjoin its enforcement,” it adds.
The move was approved by three board members praised by former President Donald Trumpfaced bipartisan opposition, some of which questioned the rule’s legality from Georgia’s Republican secretary of state and attorney general.
The rule requires election workers to count the number of ballots cast on polling day — not every vote on the ballot — before they are delivered to the county for counting and tallying, raising concerns that it could unnecessarily delay the reporting of results.
“This rule is nothing more than a blatant attempt by Donald Trump and his MAGA henchmen at the Georgia State Board of Elections to cast doubt on our election and distort the results,” DNC Acting Executive Director Monica Guardiola said in a statement.
“We agree with Georgia’s Republican attorney general and secretary of state: This rule is counterproductive and illegal, and we are fighting against it,” said Quentin Fulks, Harris’ principal deputy campaign manager.
Trump repeatedly praised the three board members who passed the event, saying they were “pit bulls fighting for integrity, transparency and victory.”
The three members — Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares and Janelle King — did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Johnson was appointed to the board by the state Republican Party, and Jeffares was appointed by the Republican-controlled state Senate and King GOP-led state House.
The two members who voted against the measure were appointed by the state’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, and the state’s Democratic Party.
The lawsuit is the second one Democrats have filed against the board in recent weeks.
Democrats sued in August new election rules backed by three pro-Trump members who critics say conflict with a state law that mandates the certification of election results.
The rules will allow constituency board members to make “reasonable” inquiries before confirming the results. Opponents argue that the rules could lead to chaos because “reasonable inquiry” is not defined, allowing an individual board member to block certification for any reason.
The case will go to trial Tuesday before a Fulton County judge.