The Georgia State Election Board has approved a controversial new rule requiring all ballots in the state to be counted by hand, a decision that is sparking heated debate ahead of the 2024 elections. The board passed the measure with a narrow three-to-two vote, with critics warning that the new rule could significantly delay the reporting of election results and sow confusion during an already contentious election cycle.
The three members of the board who voted in favor of the hand-counting rule have been described as allies of former President Donald Trump, who has continued to claim, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen. Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss to Joe Biden centered on Georgia, where officials, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, stood by the integrity of the state’s election results despite intense pressure from Trump and his supporters.
Proponents of the new rule argue that hand-counting ballots is a more transparent method that will boost voter confidence and eliminate concerns over the accuracy of machine-counted votes. They claim that this approach is a step toward ensuring the integrity of future elections, especially as mistrust in election systems remains high among segments of the population.
However, critics, including voting rights advocates and election experts, warn that the new rule could have detrimental effects on the speed and accuracy of reporting election results. Hand-counting thousands of ballots, particularly in larger counties, is expected to be a labor-intensive process that could drag on for days, or even weeks, after election day. This delay, they fear, could lead to uncertainty and mistrust in the outcome of future elections, leaving room for further disinformation.
“These delays will only serve to increase doubt in the electoral process and provide an opening for baseless claims of fraud,” said Sarah Jones, a spokesperson for Fair Fight Action, a Georgia-based voting rights organization. “We’ve already seen how misinformation can take hold in the absence of timely results. This rule change opens the door for a repeat of what we saw in 2020.”
Adding to the controversy is the political alignment of the board members who approved the rule. Critics have pointed out that the three who voted in favor of hand-counting have previously voiced strong support for Trump, raising concerns that the decision is politically motivated. The new rule comes as legal challenges against Trump and his allies in Georgia continue, with investigations into alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election still ongoing.
The two members of the board who opposed the rule voiced concerns about the practical implications of hand-counting. “This decision will place an enormous burden on county election officials and volunteers who already face pressure to get results out quickly and accurately,” said one dissenting board member. “We risk creating a scenario where delays lead to chaos, and that’s not good for democracy.”
Legal challenges to the hand-counting rule are expected. Voting rights groups and civil liberties organizations are preparing lawsuits, arguing that the rule violates the Voting Rights Act and could disenfranchise voters, particularly in large metropolitan areas where counting ballots by hand is logistically difficult.
Governor Brian Kemp’s office has yet to release a formal statement on the board’s decision, but political observers note that Georgia’s election laws and processes have been a focal point of national attention since the 2020 election. The state, once considered solidly Republican, has emerged as a key battleground, with razor-thin margins deciding major races. Any changes to the voting process in Georgia are likely to have national implications, especially as both parties gear up for the 2024 presidential election.
Meanwhile, election officials across Georgia are scrambling to prepare for the logistical challenges posed by the new rule. County election boards, particularly in heavily populated areas like Atlanta, are concerned about the resources needed to implement hand-counting and the additional workforce required to manage the process.
With lawsuits looming and national attention on Georgia’s election process, the decision to mandate hand-counting ballots is set to become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over election integrity, transparency, and the future of voting in the United States.
