A judge in Georgia has determined that local election officials are obligated to certify election results, coinciding with the commencement of in-person early voting in the key swing state. The 2024 presidential election is progressing, with over 5 million ballots already cast. Early voting has begun in Georgia, a pivotal state which could play a decisive role in the election outcome. This week, a legal ruling underscored that local officials must legally certify election results. NPR’s Stephen Fowler, reporting from Atlanta, provided updates on the situation in Georgia.
Stephen Fowler explained that the lawsuit was initiated by a Republican member of Fulton County’s elections board. The board member, who previously declined to certify multiple elections (though the results were unaffected), sought legal clarification after the state election board, chiefly composed of Republicans, implemented a rule allowing counties the potential to reject votes, particularly in Democratic areas. This court challenge argued that certifying election results should be optional for county board members, a view the judge rejected. In his ruling on Monday, Judge Robert McBurney affirmed that the law leaves no choice for officials but to certify the results.
The ruling has generally been welcomed positively, except among staunch supporters of former President Trump. Public officials from both parties, along with local election boards, expressed relief, emphasizing that the state election board exceeded its reach with recent rule changes. These included requiring poll workers to hand-count ballots at each polling place before the official count. Although still subject to court decisions, voters have already begun casting their ballots.
As early voting in Georgia commenced, voter turnout was robust. By early afternoon, election officials reported over 155,000 ballots had been cast, surpassing the 2020 first-day turnout figures. Voters expressed varied priorities; Steve Beecham from Alpharetta prioritized economic issues and cast his vote for Donald Trump, while Bryan Heath from Johns Creek emphasized the importance of preserving democracy and protecting abortion rights, aligning with Kamala Harris’ priorities.
Given that a significant portion of Georgia’s votes are typically cast before Election Day, campaigns are acting swiftly to mobilize voters. In this closely contested state, where President Biden previously won by approximately 12,000 votes, every vote is crucial. Efforts include a town hall by Trump on women’s issues, a speech in Cobb County, and campaign events featuring Kamala Harris and former President Bill Clinton in both suburban and rural areas. The campaigns are strategically targeting different voter segments to maximize their reach across the state.
