Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is doubling down on his position against the state's use of general election runoffs, calling on lawmakers to put an end to the practice. With another presidential election on the horizon, Raffensperger emphasizes the need to relieve Georgians of the additional burden of yet another political cycle during the holiday season, as reported by Atlanta News First.
Despite claims from opponents arguing new election laws suppress minority votes, Raffensperger highlights record turnout in 2022's midterms and cites the efficiency of early and mail voting options. He's advocating for change before voters are once again called to the polls for runoffs that he deems costly and unnecessary, according to Metro Atlanta's CEO. Raffensperger, who may run for Georgia governor in 2026, has faced mixed reception within his party for these sentiments, yet he maintains the course on this electoral reform.
In a statement obtained by Metro Atlanta CEO, Raffensperger stressed that "Georgia is one of the few remaining states using the General Election Runoff model," and argues that eliminating this model would remove a "costly and unnecessary election off the thanksgiving table." He is adamant that a legislative review of the runoff policy is overdue, welcoming a range of options that could replace the current system.
The renewed call by Raffensperger comes less than three weeks before the Georgia General Assembly reconvenes, where the fate of runoffs could be decided among a slate of options, including adopting a ranked-choice voting system, which has seen use in other states. The Secretary of State is gunning for this, pointing out the burden it not only places on voters but on county election offices as well that are responsible for securing and certifying the presidential election results. The office's workload increases significantly when a runoff is in play, as expressed in Atlanta News First.
The General Assembly session is set for January, where the issue will likely be a significant topic of discussion. With Georgia at a pivotal point in its electoral process, the next few weeks could very well determine if voters can look forward to quieter future Thanksgivings, devoid of the political charge that runoffs bring.
