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Georgia Court Overturns Controversial Election Regulations
A judge in Georgia recently invalidated several contentious regulations enacted by the State Elections Board (SEB), which had sparked intense discussions among representatives of Trump and Harris in this pivotal battleground state.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Cox declared the new rules “illegal, unconstitutional, and void,” as reported by various news outlets on Wednesday evening.
This ruling followed a review of two lawsuits concerning these regulations: one initiated by the Georgia Democratic Party and another supported by civil rights organizations that included both current and former Republican state officials.
Key Provisions Under Fire
A particularly contentious rule mandated that all ballots be hand-counted by three election officials after machine tabulation to verify accuracy, which has become a focal point of political contention in recent weeks.
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This hand-counting requirement was temporarily halted in a previous ruling made on Tuesday night regarding the SEB’s new measures. Judge Robert McBurney did not dispute the intent behind this rule but expressed concerns about its feasibility at such a late stage in the electoral process.
Cox’s Ruling Details
Cox’s decision not only nullified the hand-counting mandate but also overturned another regulation requiring county officials to perform a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results, along with granting them authority to scrutinize all election-related documents generated during elections.
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The judge also blocked newly imposed requirements for signature verification and photo identification for individuals submitting absentee ballots on behalf of others.
The Political Landscape
The SEB had approved these controversial rules last month with a narrow 3-2 vote from its Republican majority members.
Democratic leaders accused their Republican counterparts of attempting to create confusion within the electoral process, while proponents argued that these changes were essential safeguards aimed at bolstering voter confidence.
Lawsuits Challenge Authority of SEB
The broader case presented on Wednesday was led by Eternal Vigilance Action, an organization founded by former GOP legislator Scot Turner, claiming that the SEB overstepped its authority when implementing these new regulations.
“Three members of the state election board have acted like emperors declaring their own authority over elections,” stated one attorney representing plaintiffs. ”This is not how our government operates.”
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Defense Arguments Presented
The defense team, including lawyers for the Georgia Republican Party, contended that state law grants sufficient authority to SEB for establishing such rules.
“They fail to specify which statute they believe is unconstitutional,” remarked one GOP attorney during proceedings.
“The challenge lacks clarity; it cannot simply claim vagueness without identifying specific violations.”
A Focused Campaign Effort in Georgia
Both campaigns—those of former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris—have invested considerable time and resources into securing votes in Georgia—a state Biden narrowly won with less than 1% margin in 2020.
Harris’ campaign praised Tuesday’s ruling against mandatory ballot hand counting as strengthening democracy: “Our democracy is more resilient thanks to this decision.”
This report includes contributions from The Associated Press.
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