Georgia Judge Blocks Hand-Counting Of Ballots Rule In Another Blow To State's GOP Election Officials

TOPLINE A Georgia judge late on Tuesday blocked a new rule passed that required hand counting of ballots on election night, delivering another blow to GOP election officials in the state—many of whom falsely blame election fraud for Donald Trump’s loss in the state in 2020—just hours after the same judge issued another ruling requiring local officials to certify election results.

In his ruling, Georgia Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney said the hand count rule was “too much, too late” as he halted its enforcement while the court “considers the merits” of the case.

Last month, Georgia’s GOP-controlled State Election Board passed a new rule requiring each county to have three poll workers count the paper ballots, but not votes, on election night after the polls close and before a machine count.

The judge said the new rule was passed too close to election day, and noted that no training or allowances have been made to any county’s election budget for “additional personnel and other expenses” required to implement the hand count.




https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/10/16/georgia-judge-blocks-hand-counting-of-ballots-rule-in-another-blow-to-states-gop-election-officials/