A Georgia judge blocked a new rule from the state’s election board that would have required ballots cast on Election Day to be hand-counted, citing potential delays and disruptions. The rule was set to take effect two weeks before Election Day, sparking concerns about uncertainty and disorder in the electoral process. Democrats who filed a lawsuit against the rule welcomed the temporary injunction as a win. The rule was approved by three board members praised by former President Donald Trump, while it was opposed by Democrats and Georgia’s Republican secretary of state and attorney general.
The hand-counting measure was seen as a response to baseless claims of hacked voting machines, despite evidence that hand-counting is less accurate and more expensive. Georgia has been a focus of Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud, with the state board passing other controversial rules allowing election board members to conduct inquiries before certifying results. The ruling sparked another Democratic-led lawsuit.
The judge’s decision comes after he ruled that county election boards in Georgia cannot refuse to certify election results, delivering another blow to Trump allies. The injunction also paves the way for a legal battle over the hand-counting rule. Overall, the ruling highlights the ongoing political and legal battles over election rules and procedures in Georgia ahead of the upcoming election.
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