Democrats sue to block new voting rules in Georgia that they say will cause “chaos” in November

Democrats filed suit against the Georgia State Election Commission on Monday to block two new rules that would allow local election officials to delay certification of election results, arguing that the rules would lead to post-election “chaos.”

Earlier this month, the Elections Committee, dominated by pro-Trump Republicans, voted to give local election officials the authority to conduct a “reasonable investigation of the election results” before certification, and required that county officials be given “all election-related materials” in advance.

The lawsuit, filed by the Democratic Party of Georgia and the Democratic National Committee, argues that the rules imply that local election officials can use their own personal judgment in making decisions about certifying election results.

“According to their drafters, these rules are based on the assumption that the certification of election results by a county board is discretionary and subject to extensive investigations that can delay or prevent certification altogether. But that is not the law in Georgia,” the lawsuit states.

Democrats argue that the Republican-led Electoral College is now overstepping its legal authority. The lawsuit asks that the court invalidate the rules and affirm that any allegations of voter fraud should be handled by the courts, not the Electoral College.

“The three members that Donald Trump called his 'pit bulls' for 'victory' disagree, and they are determined to establish a new power that will allow them to fail to certify an election result should their preferred candidate lose – as was the case in 2020,” Rep. Nikema Williams, chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, said in a statement.

In 2020, President Joe Biden won Georgia by just over 12,000 votes, ending a 30-year Republican dominance in the state in presidential elections. The loss sparked a months-long battle led by former President Donald Trump to overturn the election results, which ultimately led to Trump's indictment by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

With just over two months until the 2024 presidential election, Georgia is emerging as a key swing state. Pro-Trump Republicans in Georgia argue that the rules would “benefit all Georgians” and ensure that a county election board thoroughly audits election results before certifying them.

“These rule changes in no way affect anyone's right to vote, nor do they create an undue burden on poll workers,” Josh McKoon, chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, said in a statement. “But these steps will ensure transparency, accountability, accurate reporting and voting, and the preservation of the right of both parties to observe the processing of ballots.”