Georgia’s State Election Board is set to vote on nearly a dozen rule changes before the upcoming election, raising concerns among local officials currently training poll workers and processing absentee ballot applications.
The state panel, once relatively obscure, recently gained attention for advancing rule changes in August that could potentially disrupt the certification of election results. These moves by the board’s Republican majority have garnered praise from former President Donald Trump while facing criticism from Georgia’s GOP Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, and other election officials.
Travis Doss, the elections director in Richmond County, expressed concerns about the board’s approach, noting that even strong opposition from election directors has not stopped the approval of controversial rules.
One of the proposed changes includes requiring the hand-counting of paper ballots at polling places to match the counts recorded by voting machines. Other proposals involve adding hand counts of absentee ballots, publicly posting lists of all registered voters, and expanding access for poll watchers.
The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials, representing 500 members statewide, has urged the state board to delay implementing new rules until after the election. The association highlighted concerns that significant changes at this stage could disrupt existing training and preparations.
In Gwinnett County, Atlanta’s suburb, Elections Director Zach Manifold has begun training 2,000 poll workers. Manifold noted the difficulty of handling changes during this critical training period, especially if retraining is required.
Reflecting on past elections, Manifold emphasized the importance of stability, especially when recent elections have run smoothly. However, new election laws, such as the 2021 overhaul and changes to voter challenges, have already posed challenges for officials, although they had more preparation time for those adjustments.
The county board is currently developing policies to adapt to the new certification rules, aiming to clarify documentation requirements for board members before certifying election results.
The new rules would allow local election board members to withhold certification if discrepancies are uncovered or if they cannot review every requested document. Republican state board members supporting the rules argue that local boards should not certify results without addressing their concerns.
Georgia’s Secretary of State and most election law experts, however, contend that state law does not permit such discretion for local election boards. Despite this, some local Republican board members in swing states have tested their authority since 2020.
Controversial rules, influenced by activists and groups questioning the 2020 election results, have prompted legal battles. Lawsuits challenging the certification rules have been filed by the Democratic Party of Georgia, the Democratic National Committee, and a Republican election board member in Chatham County, with a trial scheduled for October 1.
Election officials remain on edge due to the mounting challenges and new rules. Travis Doss, who leads the association of election officials, observed that policymakers seem more attuned to activists questioning election integrity than to experienced election conductors. Such dynamics, along with increasing threats and demands for security, have driven many veteran officials from the field, with Doss himself counting down the years until retirement.
In Cobb County, election officials enhanced training and coordination with local law enforcement following an incident involving an armed voter at a polling place, which is illegal.
Poll manager Susan Radulovacki reported rising voter anxiety and hostility based on misinformation. Tate Fall, Cobb County’s elections director, voiced concerns about poll worker safety, noting that experienced poll workers and office staff are increasingly reluctant or retiring due to the heightened tensions.
Despite the challenges, Manifold in Gwinnett County remains optimistic about his team’s preparedness, emphasizing the community-based nature of polling operations. He reassured that poll workers are trusted local figures, such as neighbors and public servants, although he acknowledged that deep-seated distrust among some voters poses a persistent challenge.
