Georgia’s election system has recently become the focus of national attention as a result of a far-right takeover of the Georgia State Election Board. This unelected board, which sets voting rules and provides guidance for elections, now has a conservative majority that could impact the 2024 presidential election. The board’s decisions have prompted concerns among Democrats, voting rights advocates, and even some Republicans about the integrity of the state’s upcoming elections.
The shift in the board’s power began when Georgia Republicans orchestrated a series of strategic moves to gain a conservative majority on the board. Josh McKoon, chair of the Georgia Republican Party, announced this achievement at the state party convention in May, declaring it a victory for election integrity. “When we look back on Nov. 5, 2024, we’re going to say getting to that 3-2 election-integrity-minded majority on the state election board made sure that we had the level playing field to win this election,” McKoon stated.
Since the takeover, the board has made a series of rule changes that are raising concerns, particularly among those who fear the board’s rightward tilt may undermine the election process. One of the new rules empowers local officials to refuse or delay the certification of election results if they believe there are discrepancies. This power could be used to challenge the outcome of the 2024 election, which is expected to be closely contested in Georgia.
The election board’s current majority consists of Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares, and Janelle King. Johnston has been a conservative voice on the board since her appointment, while Jeffares and King joined more recently, completing the shift toward a conservative majority. This new group of decision-makers aligns closely with the goals of right-wing activists, including those who still question the results of the 2020 election.
Janelle King, one of the newest members, emphasizes that her decisions are based on fairness rather than partisanship. “I’m not trying to do something that’s going to benefit Republicans, because that would be a very idiotic approach,” King said. “What I’m looking at is, when the petition is presented in front of me, I’m listening to why. I’m listening to past performance and what the issues may have been.” However, critics argue that the board’s actions suggest otherwise. The changes made to Georgia’s election rules have been supported by election activists who falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.
This shift toward a more politically charged election board is not unique to Georgia. Similar movements are occurring in other states, driven by conservative activists seeking to exert greater control over election infrastructure. However, the developments in Georgia are particularly concerning due to the state’s pivotal role in determining the outcome of the 2020 election and its potential to influence the 2024 race. In 2020, Georgia became a focal point for challenges to the election results, and the state’s election board is expected to play a central role again if disputes arise this November.
The takeover of Georgia’s election board is part of a broader strategy by Trump allies to control key pieces of the electoral process in battleground states. These efforts began shortly after Trump’s defeat in 2020 and have continued to intensify ahead of the 2024 election. Norm Eisen, chair of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, a nonpartisan watchdog group, noted that Trump’s allies have “learned their lessons from the failure of the attempted coup of 2020, and they’re starting earlier and attempting to burrow more deeply into the most vulnerable pieces of the election system.” He added that Georgia is shaping up to be a “hot spot” for election disputes.
Several recent moves by the board exemplify this shift. For example, the board requested a new investigation into alleged improprieties during the 2020 election in Fulton County, despite these allegations having already been investigated multiple times. The board’s conservative majority has also proposed rules that would weaken the requirements for certifying election results, potentially allowing local officials to exclude precincts from the final tally if they believe there were issues with the vote count.
Former President Donald Trump has played an active role in promoting the board’s new conservative members. At a rally in Georgia, Trump praised the board members by name, calling them “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency, and victory.” He has also taken to social media to endorse their actions and share footage of board meetings. Trump’s involvement in the minutiae of the board’s decisions is unusual for a presidential candidate, and his deep interest in Georgia’s election board has raised concerns among voting rights groups. “Trump is continuing to meddle in our state’s election, which is extremely concerning,” said Lauren Groh-Wargo, the chief executive of Fair Fight, a voting rights organization.
As 2024 approaches, Georgia’s new election rules are likely to face significant scrutiny. With polls showing a close race in the state, election officials and voting rights advocates fear that the board’s changes could open the door to a repeat of the chaotic legal challenges seen in 2020. The board’s decisions in the coming months will likely play a critical role in determining how the state’s election process unfolds and whether it can withstand the pressures of another contentious presidential race.
Georgia’s transformation into a battleground over election rules is a reminder of the ongoing debates over democracy in the United States. As the state prepares for the 2024 election, the actions of the election board and the influence of right-wing political movements will be closely watched. These developments highlight the fragile state of election integrity in the U.S. and the challenges facing the country as it approaches another critical election year.
This article is based on the following articles:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/19/us/politics/trump-2024-georgia-elections.html
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trumps-rnc-georgia-voter-purge-1235082992
Background Information
The Role of State Election Boards
State election boards are bodies that oversee the conduct of elections within a state. These boards set the rules for how elections are run, including how votes are counted, how election results are certified, and what procedures must be followed by election officials and poll workers. The goal of these boards is to ensure that elections are fair, accurate, and secure. Typically, election boards are meant to be non-partisan, meaning they should not favor any political party. However, in some states, the composition of these boards can be influenced by political appointments, which can affect how they operate.
Georgia’s Importance in U.S. Elections
Georgia has become an important state in U.S. elections, especially in recent years. This is because it is considered a “swing state,” meaning it does not consistently vote for one political party in national elections. In the 2020 presidential election, Georgia was a key battleground state where the outcome was very close. The state’s results played a significant role in deciding the overall winner of the election. Because of its importance, the way elections are conducted in Georgia can have a major impact on the national political landscape.
The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election and Its Aftermath
The 2020 U.S. presidential election was one of the most contentious in recent history. Joe Biden won the election, but former President Donald Trump and many of his supporters claimed, without evidence, that the election was rigged or stolen. These claims led to numerous legal challenges, recounts, and audits, especially in swing states like Georgia. Despite multiple investigations that found no widespread fraud, the claims of a stolen election have persisted among some groups. This has fueled efforts to change election laws and procedures in various states, often with the aim of preventing what these groups believe could be future election fraud.
The Concept of Election Integrity
Election integrity refers to the idea that elections should be conducted in a way that is fair, transparent, and trustworthy. This means that all eligible voters should have the opportunity to vote, that their votes should be counted accurately, and that the election results should reflect the true will of the people. Concerns about election integrity can arise from issues like voter suppression, where certain groups of people are discouraged or prevented from voting, or from claims of voter fraud, where it is alleged that people are casting illegal votes or tampering with the results.
The Influence of Political Movements on Elections
In recent years, there has been a growing movement among some conservative groups to gain more control over the election process at the state and local levels. These groups argue that they are trying to ensure election integrity, but critics say their efforts are really about making it harder for certain groups of people to vote, especially those who are more likely to support their political opponents. This struggle over control of the election process reflects broader political divisions in the United States and raises important questions about how democracy should work.
The Role of Voting Rights Groups
Voting rights groups are organizations that work to protect and expand the right to vote. They often focus on making sure that all eligible voters, regardless of race, income, or political affiliation, can participate in elections. These groups monitor changes to election laws and practices, advocate for policies that make voting more accessible, and challenge efforts that they believe are aimed at suppressing the vote. In states like Georgia, voting rights groups have been particularly active in responding to changes in election laws and procedures that they see as attempts to limit voter participation.
The Impact of Election Law Changes
Changes to election laws can have a significant impact on how elections are conducted and who is able to vote. For example, laws that make it harder to vote by mail, require stricter voter ID, or limit early voting can disproportionately affect certain groups of people, such as minorities, the elderly, and those with lower incomes. These changes can also affect the confidence people have in the election process. When election laws are changed in ways that appear to benefit one political party over another, it can lead to increased mistrust and concerns about the fairness of elections.
Debate/Essay Questions
- Should state election boards be made up of non-partisan members to ensure fair elections, or is it acceptable for political parties to have influence over these boards?
- Is the recent conservative takeover of Georgia’s election board a necessary step to ensure election integrity, or does it undermine democracy by favoring one political party?
- Should local officials have the power to refuse or delay certification of election results if they believe there are discrepancies, or could this lead to abuse of power and unfair election outcomes?
- Does the involvement of former President Donald Trump in the actions of Georgia’s election board represent legitimate political leadership, or does it pose a threat to the fairness of future elections?
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