The Georgia State Election Board passed a new rule with a 3-2 vote on Tuesday that could delay election certification and give board members more discretion to investigate elections.
The language of the new rule states that the board can only certify an election “after reasonable inquiry that the tabulation and canvassing of the election are complete and accurate and that the results are a true and accurate accounting of all votes cast in that election.”
The three Republican members of the board who voted in support of this rule — Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares, and Janelle King — were personally thanked during a rally by Trump when he called them “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency, and victory.”
- On Tuesday, Johnston argued that the board can’t, in good conscience, certify an election unless they are certain that it was conducted fairly and accurately.
- “Not all elections are certified,” Johnston said. “There are ballot battles and there are elections that need to be addressed carefully, and there may be issues that prevent a board from certifying.”
- She also clarified that “we’re not asking the board to do a full election audit or a forensic audit, we’re just asking for a reasonable inquiry.”
Sara Tindall Ghazal, the sole Democratic member of the board, expressed her opposition to the rule at the meeting, arguing that “reasonable inquiry” is too vague and allows for “exploitation.” She also said the rule violates state law.
“The statute still mandates that counties certify by 5 p.m. on Monday [after the election], and they will be in violation of state law if they refuse to certify,” Ghazal said.