The American Democracy Minute Radio Report for Sept. 23, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Against the recommendations of state and county election officials, three Trump loyalists serving on the Georgia State Election Board voted Friday to mandate county election officials to do a hand count reconciliation of machine counted ballots. The move may unnecessarily delay results and require more personnel.
The state’s top election official, Secretary of State Brad Raffensburger, spoke against this and other conspiracy theory-driven proposals back in August, calling them “misguided”. The Georgia Recorder reports that the president of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials testified that there wasn’t enough time to train local poll workers prior to the Nov. 5th election.
The requirement approved 3 to 2 Friday does not mandate a hand count of the races. Instead, it requires a hand count of paper ballots into stacks of 50 to compare with the machine count totals. Machine-counted ballots are consistently more accurate, faster, require fewer poll workers, and are less expensive.
More last minute election rule changes are expected on Sept. 23rd when the State Election Board meets again. In response to Governor Brian Kemp’s inquiry as to whether he could take action against the three partisan actors on the board, State Attorney General Chris Carr advised Kemp Sept. 6th that he had no obligation to act on ethics complaints filed against the three board members.
We’ve linked to the new rule, and groups taking action at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Georgia State Election Board – Revisions to Subject 183-1-12-.12 Tabulating Results
Georgia Recorder – Georgia board’s Trump loyalists OK rule to require ballot hand counts despite warnings by state AG
SOS Brad Raffensperger – Raffensperger Defends Georgia’s Election Integrity Act from Last Minute Changes Delaying Election Results
Associated Press – Raffensperger blasts proposed rule requiring hand count of ballots at Georgia polling places
Georgia Secretary of State – Rules under consideration by the Georgia State Election Board
Brennan Center for Justice – Comment to the Georgia State Election Board: Reject new hand counting procedures despite amendments.
CNN – Gov. Brian Kemp doesn’t need to investigate Georgia election board members who pushed new rule changes, state AG finds
Groups Taking Action:
Fair Fight Action, Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (CREW), ACLU GA, Common Cause GA
Check Your Voter Registration:
- Vote.Gov – Register to Vote in Your State
- Vote.Org – Check Your Registration to Vote
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