Janelle King, a Republican member of the Georgia State Election Board, has defended the controversial new election rules in the state, stating that the board is focused on 'cleaning up' the process. King emphasized that the changes are aimed at preventing future problems rather than fixing existing issues.
The new rules, passed less than 90 days before the general election, grant county election boards the authority to conduct a 'reasonable inquiry' before certifying election results and allow members of county election boards to investigate ballot counts. These rules have faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, with concerns raised about potential post-election chaos.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has supported the state's election integrity laws and criticized last-minute attempts to alter the rules. King responded to Raffensperger's remarks, highlighting the importance of open communication within the board to address concerns effectively.
Despite calls from the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials to pause future rule changes, King maintains that the board is simply streamlining the process. She reassured that the changes are not creating confusion and that there is sufficient time for implementation.
'We're not creating new laws, so it's already on the books, we're just lining everything up,' King stated.
