A Georgia judge has blocked a new rule from the state’s election board that would have required ballots cast on Election Day to be counted by hand. The judge cited concerns about delays and disruptions in reporting results, calling the rule an “administrative chaos.” The rule was set to take effect two weeks before Election Day but was temporarily halted following a lawsuit filed by Democrats. The rule had been approved by three board members praised by former President Donald Trump, while being opposed by Democrats in the state, as well as by the Republican secretary of state and attorney general.
The decision to hand-count ballots had sparked concerns about unnecessary delays and uncertainty in a battleground state for the presidential election. Critics argue that hand-counting ballots is more expensive and less accurate than using ballot tabulators. Georgia has been a primary focus of Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud in 2020, with the three board members who approved the rule receiving his praise.
The ruling to block the rule from taking effect was praised by Democrats who saw it as an effort to delay election results and sow doubt in the outcome. The same Georgia board members had previously approved other rules allowing for “reasonable inquiries” before certifying results, which critics say could also lead to election chaos. The temporary injunction also followed another ruling by the judge preventing county election boards in Georgia from refusing to certify election results.
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