The landscape of election administration in Georgia has notably shifted, as evidenced by the drawn-out and tense meetings now characteristic of the State Election Board – a body once operating in the wings but now front and center amidst political tumult. In the wake of the 2020 elections, when President Joe Biden narrowly flipped the state, the proceedings have been imbued with increased scrutiny and a palpable politicization. At the heart lies the relentless assertion by former President Donald Trump, who, devoid of evidence, claims that widespread fraud stripped away his victory in Georgia.
A majority leaning towards Republican partisans has recently taken hold on the board. This new composition has spurred fears among Democrats and voting rights advocates that the board may opt to aggressively stretch state law, thereby impairing the efficient administration of elections and delaying the certification of results. It is here that the once mundane meetings now frequently unravel into hours-long spectacles clouded by public disquiet and vociferous heckling, a stark departure from the board's previous obscurity.
According to a recent story published by WABE, the board, while not directly involved in election outcomes, is tasked with the drafting of rules for smooth election proceedings and the handling of violations complaints. Despite Georgia's tilt towards Democrats in recent Senate and presidential races, the state's government remains predominantly Republican, with a brush of Trump allegiance, as captured by David Worley, a board veteran, who told WABE, "They do not like the way Georgians have been voting recently, and they apparently have no compunction with effectively taking away the citizens’ right to vote."
The removal of the Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger as chair of the board by his own party is seen as a retaliatory strike for his defense of the 2020 election results. Raffensperger's unvarnished description of the board's current state as "They're a mess," echoes the heightened tensions and messy political fallout. The board's conservative majority has lately shown a penchant for rules amplifying the number of poll watchers in ballot-counting centers – a move some herald for ensuring transparency while others ominous forewarn could sow chaos and intimidate election workers.
This majority's recent acts include deliberate reexamination of the 2020 presidential election and a vote to admonish Fulton County for a likely error involving the double scanning of ballots during a recount. Controversy further burgeoned when a hurriedly convened meeting on July 12, which was the subject of a lawsuit by American Oversight for allegedly breaching Georgia's public meeting laws, became focal. The plaintiff argued that board member Johnston's virtual attendance invalidated the meeting, while King maintained the meeting was properly noticed and merely continued earlier proceedings.
The machinations of the State Election Board have provoked a broad spectrum of reactions. Marilyn Marks, head of the Coalition for Good Governance, criticized entrenched inertia and the board's failings in timely responses to both electoral transgressions and system glitches. However, the board's recent attempts at rectifying these old issues are now scrutinized for a perceived lack of neutrality and a heavy-handed approach, as Marks conveyed a sentiment of missed opportunity to seek legal expertise on rule-making.
