When it comes to counting ballots in Georgia this year, officials are stepping into new territory with their freshly granted powers to verify the tabulated results. The mainstream media, predictably, is in a tizzy, worrying that this could delay or even “derail” the certification process since the ordinance fails to define what exactly constitutes a “reasonable inquiry.” It’s worth noting that Trump has referred to the members of Georgia’s Election Board—dominated by Republicans—as “pit bulls for honesty” (via NBC News).
Georgia has now armed local officials with significant new authority over certifying election results, a move that some say could throw a wrench into the smooth reporting of post-election certifications. In a 3-2 decision, the State Election Board, controlled by Republicans, has now defined certification as “attest[ing], after reasonable inquiry, that the tabulation and canvassing of the election are complete and accurate and that the election results are a true and accurate accounting of all votes cast in that election.”
What’s the catch? Well, the rule conveniently doesn’t bother to define what “reasonable inquiry” means. So, as you might guess, this leaves plenty of room for interpretation, likely varying from county to county. This opens the door for county election boards to request additional information and possibly delay or even block certification if they see fit. Naturally, this could throw off the timely reporting of election results to state and federal authorities.
Local certification used to be a routine, almost ceremonial, process. But since the 2020 election, when Trump and his allies argued that officials had the discretion to delay or block certification, there’s been a shift. They saw an opportunity to use state and county officials to contest the results, and this new rule seems to build on that foundation of skepticism.
Now, you’d think Governor Brian Kemp might be wary of stirring the pot even further, especially after Trump’s recent jab at him. But no, Kemp is brushing off the criticism and is apparently ready to use every ounce of his political influence to ensure Trump carries Georgia this time around. Of course, everyone is hoping for a smooth election night, but let’s not forget—hackers have already identified vulnerabilities in the system that won’t be fixed until after the election. The real question is, how will the left react? They’re sure to accuse the GOP of funny business, even though they were the ones caught with their hand in the cookie jar last time.
For now, the outrage from liberals has been muted, but should anything go awry on election night, you can bet the noise will be impossible to ignore.
