Official election results and reporting timelines from Georgia State Election Board

Georgia Election Board Approves Hand-Counting Ballots in 3-2 Vote for November Election

Sep 20, 2024, 04:48 PM

The Georgia State Election Board has approved a new rule requiring counties to hand-count all ballots in the upcoming November election. The decision, which passed with a 3-2 vote, mandates that election workers perform the hand counts on election night. This move, driven by a pro-Trump majority on the board, has been met with significant criticism. Critics argue that the new requirement could delay the reporting of results by weeks or even months, potentially causing chaos and inaccuracies in the final vote tally. The Georgia Attorney General has issued a warning that the rule changes may exceed the board's authority and violate state law. Legal challenges are expected as opponents of the rule prepare to sue, citing concerns over the feasibility and accuracy of hand-counting millions of ballots. The rule, identified as 181-1-12-.12, affects the critical battleground state of Georgia.