July 12, 2024
ATLANTA – Today, two of five Georgia State Elections Board (SEB) members met last-minute to further discuss proposals that would create additional burdens on local election officials and increase the likelihood of disruptions from poll observers during tabulation. The election board meeting was held without the remaining two board members, including the SEB chair. In response to this unlawful meeting, All Voting is Local Action Georgia State Director Kristin Nabers issued the following statement:
“These three board members called this meeting directly in defiance of state laws, disrespecting not only all Georgia voters but also the state election board members who were unable to attend the meeting, as well as Georgia’s election officials. These proposals are a thinly veiled attempt to lay the groundwork for potential election subversion under the façade of transparency, and it is not lost on us that some of these members have been known to question past election results. This cohort made a mockery of norms and laws regarding our elections and system of governance.”
Background
One proposal voted on today would require posting election results daily during advance voting, putting an additional burden on election officials during the voting period. In conjunction with the Grubbs and Heekin rules being advanced by this body, which pave a specific path to excluding entire precincts from certification, this proposal would provide detailed information that would allow for precincts to be preemptively targeted for exclusion from certified results. In addition, the disclosure of such localized information, in concert with the small size of precincts, raises concerns about ballot secrecy, a guarantee under Georgia’s constitution. This rule is still not posted publicly and was voted on without an opportunity for public comment.
The second proposal is nearly identical to a proposal rejected less than 60 days prior by the SEC due to the board’s lacking the authority to expand beyond the legislative intent of existing statutes regarding the number and location of poll watchers during tabulation. Multiple board members, none of whom were present at today’s meeting, raised serious concerns about this measure. This proposal is also still not publicly available and also voted on without any public comment allowed.
A third rule was also voted on that would allow poll watchers more access to the ballot-counting areas, which raises concerns about ballot secrecy and a potential for disruption during tabulation.