{"id":2332642,"date":"2024-08-28T14:15:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-ga-county-should-rubber-stamp-elections-no-questions\/"},"modified":"2024-08-28T14:22:35","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:22:35","slug":"dems-ga-county-should-rubber-stamp-elections-no-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-ga-county-should-rubber-stamp-elections-no-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Dems: GA County Should Rubber-Stamp Elections, No Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdems-ga-county-should-rubber-stamp-elections-no-questions%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2332642&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Georgia State Election Board\u200b (SEB) \u2063has introduced new rules allowing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exposing-the-particular-lefts-80-million-dark-cash-try-to-take-over-local-elections\/\" title=\"Exposing the particular Left\u2019s  Million Dark Cash Try to Take Over Local Elections\">county election board members<\/a> to conduct \u200b&#8221;reasonable inquiries&#8221; regarding elections before certifying results.\u2064 These regulations also\u2062 grant board members the\u200c right to\u2062 review election-related materials as part of their inquiries. However, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Georgia Democrats have\u200b filed a lawsuit against these rules, \u200dclaiming \u2064that election certification should be a straightforward process without the discretion to investigate. The\u2064 DNC\u200c argues that the new rules\u2063 could delay the \u200dcertification process and empower\u200c officials \u200bto withhold results\u200c for questioning, potentially disrupting the electoral\u200c process.<\/p>\n<p>The SEB has stipulated that the certification process should\u2063 only occur after ensuring the accuracy \u2064of the vote tabulation. One specific rule requires \u2064that all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-relief-for-ga-election-official-months-after-dem-legal-threats\/\" title=\"No Relief For GA Election Official Months After Dem Legal Threats\">election-related documentation<\/a> be\u2063 made available before certification. \u2062While the DNC&#8217;s lawsuit asserts that these changes\u200b could lead to unjustified delays, proponents argue that having \u2064board \u200bmembers involved \u2062and informed is essential for accountability and \u200ctransparency in the electoral process.<\/p>\n<p>Some\u200b counties reportedly\u2063 have already allowed \u2062review of election materials \u200bprior to certification \u2062without delays. The lawsuit also critiques \u200da rule comparing the \u200bnumber \u200dof ballots cast to unique voter IDs,\u2064 which \u2063has a basis in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tennessee-district-attorney-blocked-from-enforcing-state-law-shielding-kids-from-explicit-performances\/\" title=\"Tennessee DA prevented from enforcing law protecting children from explicit performances.\">state law aimed<\/a> at \u200cidentifying \u2064discrepancies. the conflict centers on the balance between ensuring election\u200c integrity through\u2064 oversight and \u200bthe need for\u2064 efficiency in\u200d certifying\u2062 election outcomes.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Georgia State Election Board (SEB) passed a series of rules clarifying that county election board members have the right to make a &ldquo;reasonable inquiry&rdquo; into elections before certifying the results. Another rule clarifies board members are entitled to review election-related material as part of their inquiry. But the Democratic National Committee (DNC), alongside Georgia Democrats, filed a lawsuit Monday over the rules, essentially demanding the courts force county election officials to rubber-stamp elections without any questions asked.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/08\/georgia-elections-board-confirms-officials-right-to-reasonable-inquiry-before-certifying-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEB recently passed<\/a> a <a href=\"https:\/\/sos.ga.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-07\/Notice%20of%20Proposed%20Rulemaking%20-%20183-1-12-.02.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rule<\/a> (Rule 183-1-12-.02) clarifying that county election boards can fulfill their certification responsibility &ldquo;after reasonable inquiry that the tabulation and canvassing of the election are complete and accurate and that the results are a true and accurate accounting of all votes cast in that election.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The SEB also <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/16\/georgia-board-to-vote-on-requiring-number-of-ballots-cast-to-equal-number-of-voters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">approved another amendment<\/a> last week (Rule 183-1-12-.12), which, in part, <a href=\"https:\/\/sos.ga.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-07\/notice_of_proposed_rulemaking_183_1_12_12_1_v2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">requires<\/a> county boards to make available &ldquo;all election related documentation created during the conduct of elections prior to certification of results.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But a <a href=\"https:\/\/s3.documentcloud.org\/documents\/25074880\/petition-for-declaratory-relief.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lawsuit<\/a> lodged Monday night by the DNC essentially argues that certifying an election is ministerial &mdash; meaning board members must effectively rubber-stamp election results despite their concerns &mdash; rather than discretionary &mdash; meaning board members can evaluate election administration before they certify the results.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Courts across the country have expressly acknowledged that giving election officials the discretion to refuse certification would both threaten to disenfranchise voters and &lsquo;<em>create<\/em> []  opportunities for election fraud&rsquo; on the part of those officials,&rdquo; the suit states.<\/p>\n<p>The DNC suit alleges the rules would delay certification.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Through rulemaking, SEB has attempted to turn the straightforward and mandatory act of certification&ndash;<em>i.e.<\/em> confirmation of the accurate tabulation of votes cast&ndash;into a broad license for individual board members to hunt for purported election irregularities of any kind, potentially delaying certification and displacing longstanding (and court-supervised) processes for addressing fraud,&rdquo; the suit continues.<\/p>\n<p>The Washington Post last week <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/08\/23\/trump-election-interference-georgia-arizona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">regurgitated<\/a> a similar claim, saying &ldquo;critics said [the rule passed last week] would empower county election officials to withhold certification of results without justification, potentially thwarting a popular result.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But a quick call with Cobb County GOP Chairwoman Salleigh Grubbs, who proposed Rule 183-1-12-.12, clarified that her rule never changed the certification deadline. The rule even confirms that results must be certified by the superintendent &ldquo;not later than 5:00 P.M. on the Monday following the date on which such election was held &hellip; .&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you actually read the rule, you&rsquo;ll see there&rsquo;s nothing in there that would delay certification,&rdquo; Grubbs told The Federalist.<\/p>\n<p>Grubbs told The Federalist that election superintendents are &ldquo;withholding documents needed for people to certify the election,&rdquo; including in her own county (Cobb County).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The very people that they have in hysterics over it are the same people in control over the information,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Grubbs said that, for example, the certified list of electors &mdash; which lists individuals who are qualified to vote &mdash; is already available material for superintendents since they need the list to conduct the election.<\/p>\n<p>Some counties in Georgia seem to already provide election-related material to board members for review prior to certification. For example, Paulding County Elections and Voter Registration Supervisor Deidre Holden told The Federalist that, in Paulding, board members &ldquo;have access to all recap sheets, tapes and reports&rdquo; and that the county has &ldquo;never had a delayed certification.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>When asked how the county maintains a smooth and streamlined process, Holden said that &ldquo;[a]ll counties should involve their board in the process and give them access to election certification documents.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The board is the superintendent of the election and are ultimately responsible for the numbers and the certification. They should have full access prior to certification,&rdquo; she told The Federalist.<\/p>\n<p>The DNC suit also takes issue with a portion of rule 183-1-12-.12 which, in part, requires the board members to &ldquo;compare the total number of ballots cast to the total number of unique voter ID numbers,&rdquo; clarifying that &ldquo;[i]n any precinct in which the number of ballots exceeds the number of unique voters, the Board shall determine the method of voting in which the discrepancy exists.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>State statute already <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/codes\/georgia\/title-21\/chapter-2\/article-12\/section-21-2-493\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stipulated<\/a> prior to the implementation of the rule that, should the number of ballots exceed the number of voters, the &ldquo;excess shall be deemed a discrepancy and palpable error and shall be investigated by the superintendent&rdquo; before certification.<\/p>\n<p>But the suit alleges that, &ldquo;[a]lthough the petition purports to ask SEB to &lsquo;adopt a rule to affirm <em>existing<\/em> Georgia law,&rsquo; &hellip; its contents go beyond any existing statutory requirements.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>The suit alleges that the &ldquo;proposed rule adds a non-statutory step in the canvassing process by requiring that &lsquo;[a] list of all voters who voted in the election&rsquo; be compiled and examined for duplicates,&rdquo; and claims &ldquo;[t]hat [this] requirement goes beyond the already-detailed statutory scheme for canvassing &hellip; .&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The suit also claims that the &ldquo;reasonable inquiry&rdquo; rule passed earlier this month creates doubt in the election certification process, citing comments from the Democratic Party of Georgia (DPG) &ldquo;urging SEB to reject the Reasonable Inquiry Rule,&rdquo; and claiming the rule &ldquo;&lsquo;serves only as a pretext to sow seeds of doubt about the election certification process, all but guaranteeing chaos in Georgia elections in the coming weeks and months.&#8217;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, SEB member <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/IAM_JanelleK\/status\/1828178061424042495\">Janelle King<\/a>, who voted in favor of both rule changes, said in a recent statement that &ldquo;[e]nsuring that every County election board member has access to all election-related documentation&rdquo; as these rules allow, &ldquo;actually strengthens the certification process.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By being fully informed, board members are better equipped to certify with confidence, knowing they have all necessary information to support their decisions.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Georgia State Election Board (SEB) has enacted new regulations that affirm county election board members&#8217; authority to conduct a &#8220;reasonable inquiry&#8221; into elections prior to certifying the results. One of these rules specifies that board members can examine election-related documents during their inquiries. However, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Georgia Democrats filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging these rules, effectively seeking judicial intervention to compel county election officials to certify elections without raising any questions.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, the SEB introduced Rule 183-1-12-.02, which states that county election boards can fulfill their certification duties &#8220;after reasonable inquiry&#8221; ensuring that vote tabulation and canvassing are accurate and reflect all votes cast. Additionally, another rule (Rule 183-1-12-.12) mandates that county boards provide &#8220;all election-related documentation created during the conduct of elections prior to certification.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The DNC&#8217;s lawsuit argues that certifying an election should be a ministerial act\u2014meaning board members must approve results without hesitation\u2014rather than discretionary, which would allow them to assess electoral processes before certification. The suit claims this discretion could disenfranchise voters and create opportunities for fraud by allowing officials to refuse certification.<\/p>\n<p>The DNC contends that these new rules could lead to delays in certification by transforming what should be a straightforward process into one where individual board members might seek out alleged irregularities. Critics have echoed this sentiment in media reports.<\/p>\n<p>However, Cobb County GOP Chairwoman Salleigh Grubbs clarified in an interview with The Federalist that her proposed rule does not alter the deadline for certification; it explicitly states results must be certified by 5:00 PM on the Monday following an election. She also noted issues with some superintendents withholding necessary documents for timely certifications.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, some counties like Paulding already provide access to relevant materials before certifications occur; Paulding&#8217;s Elections Supervisor stated they have never experienced delayed certifications due to such practices.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the DNC&#8217;s lawsuit challenges part of Rule 183-1-12-.12 requiring board members to compare ballots cast against unique voter ID numbers\u2014a step already mandated by state law if discrepancies arise. The suit claims this requirement adds unnecessary complexity beyond existing legal obligations.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, it argues that the recent &#8220;reasonable inquiry&#8221; rule undermines confidence in the electoral process based on statements from Georgia Democrats urging its rejection as merely a tactic designed to instill doubt about election integrity.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, SEB member Janelle King defended both rule changes as measures enhancing transparency and confidence in certifications by ensuring all board members have access to essential information needed for informed decision-making regarding elections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":2332643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-27-at-3.51.30-PM-e1724788406940-1024x577.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[3933,6571,4977],"class_list":["post-2332642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-dems","tag-elections","tag-georgia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-27-at-3.51.30-PM-e1724788406940-1024x577.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2332642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332642\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2332643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2332642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2332642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2332642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}