A Georgia judge invalidated several new election rules approved by the state’s Republican-controlled election board, deeming them “unconstitutional” and in violation of state law. The ruling, handed down by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox, applies to seven rules, including a hand-count rule for Election Day ballots and rules tied to the certification of results. The judge concluded that the board had no authority to implement these rules and deemed them illegal, unconstitutional, and void. The lawsuit was filed by a pair of Georgia voters, including former Republican state Rep. Scot Turner, who leads the election policy advocacy group Eternal Vigilance Action. The ruling was praised by Turner as a victory for the Constitution and the principle of separation of powers. The American Civil Liberties Union, representing civil rights groups, also hailed it as a big victory for voting rights.
The state’s new election rules have faced significant criticism and legal challenges from the Democratic National Committee and the state’s Democratic Party. Voters in Georgia have begun in-person early voting, with record-breaking turnout on the first day. Former President Trump and his allies have faced legal challenges in connection with attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.
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