ATLANTA, GEORGIA – A Georgia judge has overturned changes to the state’s election rules made by a Republican-controlled state board, citing exceeding legal authority and potential disruption to voting rights.
Judge Thomas Cox’s ruling on Wednesday comes just weeks before the November 5 U.S. presidential election, where Georgia is expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
The changes, made in August, would have allowed county election board members to investigate discrepancies and examine election-related documents before certifying results. Critics argued this would impede certification of voting results and undermine election integrity.
The conservative group Eternal Vigilance Action brought the case, arguing the board exceeded its authority. The Democratic Party had also filed a separate lawsuit challenging the changes.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, expressed concerns that the changes would damage voter confidence and burden election workers.
“This ruling ensures that Georgia’s elections will be conducted fairly and transparently,” Raffensperger said.
Democrats hailed the decision as a victory for voting rights, while Republicans argued it undermines election security.
Kamala Harris has maintained a lead over Donald Trump ever since Joe Biden withdrew and endorsed her as the Democratic nominee, according to our national polling aggregates. But the space between them seems to be vanishing with each day the election draws nearer.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton have battered the Florida panhandle and wider South – in terms of an October surprise, their impact on the race remains an unknown.
While the destruction is sure to hamper the Democrats’ drive to get as many voters registered as possible, the worst-affected rural areas of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee tend to be Republican-leaning, and turnout could fall.
