{"id":2363846,"date":"2024-11-04T13:04:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T18:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-election-chief-criticizes-fulton-county-for-last-minute-ballot-acceptance-decision-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-04T13:07:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T18:07:10","slug":"georgia-election-chief-criticizes-fulton-county-for-last-minute-ballot-acceptance-decision-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-election-chief-criticizes-fulton-county-for-last-minute-ballot-acceptance-decision-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia election chief criticizes Fulton County for last-minute ballot acceptance decision &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"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\">28<\/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%2Fgeorgia-election-chief-criticizes-fulton-county-for-last-minute-ballot-acceptance-decision-washington-examiner%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=2363846&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 provided search results highlight \u200da series \u200dof significant events and legal challenges\u200b surrounding the 2024 election process in Georgia, particularly focusing on the actions taken by Fulton County \u200cregarding absentee \u200bballots.<\/p>\n<p>1. \u2063**Georgia State\u2062 Election Board and Election Process Changes**:<\/p>\n<p>   The Georgia State Election Board has \u200drecently faced controversies \u200dregarding new rules that \u200cgovern election \u200dcertification in the state. These\u2064 changes have\u200d spurred legal challenges and evaluations, especially in a\u200d politically charged environment, as seen \u2064in the previous elections.<\/p>\n<p>2. **Fulton County&#8217;s Absentee Ballot Decisions**:<\/p>\n<p>   \u2063  Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger criticized Fulton County for its late decision to\u2063 open election offices to accept absentee \u2064ballots. He noted that this move created \u2062confusion among voters since other counties had communicated their plans well in advance. While defending \u200cthis decision, \u2063Raffensperger implied that clearer communication \u200bcould have avoided unnecessary complications.\u200b <\/p>\n<p>   The background involved Republican\u2062 accusations against Fulton County of not allowing\u200d poll watchers during absentee ballot pickup, leading to legal actions \u2062which culminated in a judge affirming the legality of \u2064the extended ballot acceptance. This <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">situation reflects broader election integrity \u200cconcerns<\/a> within a state that has seen significant \u2063contention surrounding\u200b its electoral processes following\u2062 the 2020 election.<\/p>\n<p>These developments indicate a complex landscape of election law \u2063and administration in Georgia, particularly as the state prepares for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-rand-paul-offers-dr-rachel-levine-as-example-of-radical-agenda-riding-bidens-coattails\/\" title=\"Sen. Rand Paul Offers Dr. Rachel Levine As Example Of Radical Agenda Riding Biden\u2019s Coattails\">upcoming presidential election<\/a>.  <\/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<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Georgia election chief criticizes Fulton County for last-minute ballot acceptance decision<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video\">\n<div id=\"Brid_21235\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Georgia<\/a>&nbsp;Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger defended four blue Atlanta-area counties that opened election offices over the weekend to accept straggling absentee ballots, but he said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fulton-county\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fulton County<\/a>, in particular, should have communicated about it better.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Raffensperger, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Republican-Party\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican\">Republican<\/a>, said he thought Gwinnett County election officials handled the process more transparently because they decided over the summer that their county would extend absentee ballot acceptance.<\/p>\n<p>Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold and the most populous county in the state, was, on the other hand, &ldquo;relatively late,&rdquo; Raffensperger said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What I will say is our policy has been we&rsquo;d like to know what the rules are up front,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;d like people to have consistency, and Gwinnett County was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-adopts-election-reform-bill-that-stops-some-voters-from-automatically-receiving-absentee-ballots\/\" title=\"Arizona Adopts Election Reform Bill That Stops Some Voters From Automatically Receiving Absentee Ballots\">receiving absentee ballots<\/a>, they had people at their offices, but they had made that decision back in July, and Fulton&rsquo;s was relatively late, and I think that&rsquo;s not really helpful because then people have to respond to that, so I think it caught some people unaware.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Raffensperger did not address when the other two counties, DeKalb and Cobb, announced their decisions to extend absentee ballot acceptance through the weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Raffensperger&rsquo;s remarks came in response to a legal debacle over the weekend during which Georgia Republicans blasted the four counties for extending absentee ballot acceptance at a handful of election offices, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/china-starving-out-13-million-trapped-at-epicenter-of-coronavirus-outbreak\/\" title=\"China Starving Out 13 Million Trapped at Epicenter of Coronavirus Outbreak\">accused local officials<\/a> of shutting out poll watchers at the offices, and filed a lawsuit against Fulton County over the extension.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the lawsuit, a judge ruled on Saturday during a virtual hearing that opening election offices to accept weekend absentee ballots was legal. The Georgia Republican Party had argued in a complaint that Fulton County illegally opened drop box access, but state officials countered that no drop boxes were used.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding poll watchers, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ChairmanWhatley\/status\/1852796845174505681\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>&nbsp;on X that after pushing for poll watching access, the GOP was granted access to observe the offices that were opened.<\/p>\n<p>Gabriel Sterling, a top official in the Georgia Secretary of State&rsquo;s Office, said in a statement on X that &ldquo;no laws were broken&rdquo; and that Fulton County accepted 104 extra ballots on Saturday as a result of the extension.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans remain dissatisfied, however.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/2024-election-campaign-live-updates-harris-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS ON THE TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An RNC official told the&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner<\/em>&nbsp;on Monday that the GOP was escalating the lawsuit and that it was still making its way through the Georgia court system. The official said the RNC believed the four counties &ldquo;were at the last minute making a pretty radical change&rdquo; and that it only served to &ldquo;drive down voter confidence.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JoshMcKoon\/status\/1853072174174683512\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suggested<\/a>&nbsp;over the weekend that the move by blue counties to extend ballot acceptance was because mail-in voting was down in those counties compared to Republican counties in the state.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_21235\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"playlist\":\"21235\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Georgia election chief criticizes Fulton for late ballot decision<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":2363847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Raffensburge.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[9807,7375,3728,32987,4977],"class_list":["post-2363846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-ballots","tag-criticism","tag-election","tag-fulton-county","tag-georgia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Raffensburge.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363846","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\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2363846"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2363857,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363846\/revisions\/2363857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2363847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2363846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2363846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2363846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}