Former President Donald Trump recently praised three members of the Georgia State Election Board at a rally in Atlanta, calling them “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory.” Dr. Janice Johnston, Rick Jaffares, and Janelle King have all questioned the results of the 2020 election, similar to Trump. However, their recent actions to pass new election rules, including increasing partisan poll watchers, have raised concerns about potential chaos and confusion in future elections according to American Oversight, a non-profit organization that pushes for government transparency.
The Georgia State Election Board, previously chaired by the secretary of state, saw significant changes in their responsibilities and power following the 2020 election. The Republican-majority state legislature passed a law that removed the secretary of state as chair and implemented stricter voting rules. This led to the election of new board members who align with Trump’s views on the election results.
The board’s actions to hastily pass election-related rules in July drew criticism for potentially intimidating election workers and violating state laws related to meeting protocols. American Oversight sued the board members for their actions, alleging unlawfulness and lack of transparency in the decision-making process.
The involvement of the Georgia Republican Party in pushing for these new rules, as well as the support from Trump, has raised concerns about the integrity of future elections in Georgia. While the Republican Party claims to be intervening to prevent fraud and abuse, critics worry about the impact of these changes on election processes and outcomes.
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