Georgia is gearing up for early voting to begin on Tuesday, but a contentious issue has emerged between the two major political parties regarding how ballots will be tabulated post-Election Day.
Democrats are currently embroiled in a legal battle with Georgia's State Election Board over a new rule mandating that all votes be hand-counted in each county after initial machine-tabulation to ensure accuracy. The Georgia Democratic Party has criticized the rule, alleging that it aims to sow division and chaos in the election process.
On the other hand, Republican officials in Georgia view the hand-counting rule as a crucial safeguard to bolster voter confidence in the electoral system. They argue that it serves as a necessary check on the accuracy of machine tabulation, akin to reconciling a checkbook, and is essential to prevent a repeat of past election controversies.
The rule, passed by a 3-2 vote by the elections board, has faced opposition from some quarters on the right. Georgia's Secretary of State and the state's Attorney General, both Republicans, have expressed reservations about the rule, citing concerns about potential delays in election results and chain of custody issues.
Despite the pushback, supporters of the rule, including some aligned with former President Donald Trump, maintain that it is a reasonable measure to ensure transparency and accuracy in the electoral process. They refute claims that the rule would cause significant delays and emphasize the importance of verifying the total number of ballots cast.
The ongoing dispute underscores the deep partisan divide over election procedures in Georgia, with Democrats raising suspicions about the rule's intent and Republicans advocating for enhanced election integrity measures. As early voting kicks off in the state, the outcome of this legal battle is likely to have far-reaching implications for voter confidence in Georgia's electoral system.
Georgia's early voting period is scheduled to run from October 15 to November 1.
