Former President Donald Trump praised three members of the Georgia State Election Board, Dr. Janice Johnston, Rick Jaffares, and Janelle King, as “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory” at a rally in Atlanta. All three members have questioned the results of the 2020 election, drawing criticism from groups advocating for government transparency. The board is responsible for creating rules to administer the state’s elections, and after the 2020 election, there have been significant changes in the board’s membership and powers.
The Republican-majority in the board has pushed for new election rules, sparking concerns about potential chaos and confusion in future elections, particularly the 2024 election. The board hastily adopted election-related rules in July, but American Oversight sued, alleging violations of the state’s Open Meetings Act. These rules included increasing the number of partisan poll watchers and requiring daily ballot counts to be posted online.
This controversy involving the Georgia State Election Board has drawn attention from both Democrats and Republicans, including the Georgia Republican Party seeking to intervene in the lawsuit against the board members. Trump’s praise for the board members has further escalated concerns about the integrity of the upcoming elections. However, board member Janelle King maintains that decisions were made based on facts and evidence, with no outside influence from political parties or campaigns. The ongoing legal battle and political maneuvering surrounding the State Election Board underline the deeply polarized and contentious landscape of election administration in Georgia.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com