November 2, 2024
In a tense legal standoff, the Republican National Committee (RNC) filed a lawsuit Saturday against four Georgia counties—Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett—after they extended election office hours and accepted absentee ballots over the weekend, allegedly violating state election law. The move, which the RNC claims was carried out without Republican poll observers allowed in the buildings, has intensified concerns about election integrity just days before Election Day.
The Georgia Republican Party argued that the counties’ actions openly disregard state laws mandating that “all drop boxes shall be closed when the advance voting period ends.” This last-minute extension of ballot acceptance in traditionally Democratic-leaning areas sparked accusations from GOP leaders that the counties are attempting to favor Democrat candidates by violating established procedures.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley criticized local officials, saying, “Democrat officials are playing fast and loose with election law.”
Republican Poll Watchers Barred
Adding to the controversy, Greg Dolezal, a Georgia state senator representing Forsyth County, disclosed that the Fulton County Registration Manager instructed staff not to allow GOP observers in the building. According to an internal email Dolezal shared, the Registration Manager directed staff: “Do not let them in the building. If they want to observe from the parking lot, you can’t stop that, but they are not allowed to sit in the building.”
Dolezal voiced frustration over the alleged restriction, stating, “I am en route myself to get eyes on the situation as well. Maddening way to spend a Saturday, and Fulton needs to be held accountable for once again making up rules as they go.”
Secretary of State’s Office Responds
The counties reportedly made the decision to keep their offices open over the weekend without informing the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. In response, the Secretary of State’s office dispatched investigators to each of the four locations. According to Senator Dolezal, additional outside monitoring teams, which had already been assigned to observe Fulton County due to past issues, were also sent to the scene to assess the situation.
“I am in communication with the Secretary of State’s office and my Senate colleagues about this,” Dolezal said. “The Secretary has sent investigators to all four locations, and the outside monitoring teams… are also deploying people to each location.”
Access and Legal Action
Upon hearing of the alleged observer restrictions, Georgia Republican state senators Greg Dolezal, Brandon Beach, and John Albers traveled to Fulton County and were eventually granted access to the building. However, the RNC is now seeking an emergency court order to sequester any absentee ballots counted over the weekend until the court can hear the case.
In its statement, the Georgia Republican Party emphasized the importance of transparency and rule-following, especially in the final stretch before Election Day. “The law is clear,” the statement reads, “and election procedures exist to maintain the integrity of the process for all Georgia voters.”
Legal Battle Continues
As the RNC pushes for judicial intervention to sequester ballots counted over the weekend, the situation is rapidly evolving. With legal teams now involved and investigations underway, the resolution may set a precedent for future election practices in Georgia and could impact voter confidence in the state’s electoral system.
This case highlights the challenges of balancing election security and access, especially in a state that has witnessed highly contentious elections in recent years. Republican leaders have called for swift accountability and for Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office to ensure that election laws are uniformly enforced.
Check back for updates as this story develops.
Sources:
- Fox News
- Statements from Georgia Republican Party and RNC
