Georgia Judge Dismisses GOP Effort to Halt Weekend Absentee Ballot Drop-Offs

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Plaintiffs said the lack of poll watchers to observe the absentee ballot intake by local election officials compromised election integrity.

A Georgia judge has dismissed a Republican lawsuit attempting to prevent counties from operating election offices over the weekend to accept hand-delivered absentee ballots.

The GOP plaintiffs argued that Fulton County’s decision to open the election offices on Nov. 2 and 3 where voters could hand-deliver absentee ballots directly to registrars was unsupported by state law and violated rules requiring that ballot boxes be locked after early voting, which ended Friday.

Plaintiffs said the lack of poll watchers to observe the absentee (or mail-in) ballot intake by local election officials compromised election integrity.

During a court hearing on Nov. 2, Fulton County Judge Kevin Farmer denied the emergency petition filed by the Republican plaintiffs late on Nov. 1, finding that state law allows for voters to hand-deliver absentee ballots directly to registrars and that no ballot drop boxes were open at the election offices that Fulton County decided to keep open over the weekend.

The Republican plaintiffs argued that all ballot drop boxes should be locked after the end of the early voting period, while also suggesting that county election offices should not be used as places where election workers accept hand-delivered absentee ballots after early voting ended.

The petition asked for the judge to approve a “Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction, and Permanent Injunction providing that Defendants, as well as their officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and any persons acting in active concert or participation with them shall … [n]ot permit persons to hand-return their absentee ballots in violation of O.C.G.A. § 21-2-382 and O.C.G.A. §21-2-385; to wit; not accept absentee ballots in drop boxes on November 2 and 3, 2024 anywhere within Fulton County, Georgia.”

Attorney Alex Kaufman, representing the Republican plaintiffs, argued during Saturday’s hearing that there are no provisions in O.C.G.A. §21-2-385 (Procedure for voting by absentee ballot; advance voting) that allow hand-delivery to the registrar.

The judge disagreed, reading out the language of the relevant section: “Such envelope shall then be securely sealed and the elector shall then personally mail or personally deliver same to the board of registrars or absentee ballot clerk.”

By Tom Ozimek

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Five Reasons Why The Latest Czech Elections Were So Important

Populist-nationalist politician Andrej Babis is poised to return to the premiership after his party's victory. Here are 5 reasons why this is so important.

Bad Bunny is the NFL’s Latest Insult

After years of advocating social justice causes, the NFL chose left wing, gender fluid rapper Bad Bunny to headline the next Super Bowl. Does the NFL want conservatives fans?

Scheduling collides with legacy

The ACC’s footprint now sprawls from Boston and Miami to Salt Lake City and the San Francisco Bay, defying both geography and its own name.

The Paradoxical Patriot: The political odyssey of Frank S. Meyer

In his book, Daniel J. Flynn examines the ideological evolution of one of conservatism’s most paradoxical and overlooked architects, Frank S. Meyer. 

This Is America: Target™ Reparations

“This Is America” explores the cultural undercurrents pulling Western...

Judge Upholds Nassau County Ban on Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports

A New York judge on Oct. 6 upheld a Long Island county law banning male athletes from participating in women’s sports at county-run facilities.

Takeaways From Pam Bondi’s Testimony Before Senate Panel

AG Pam Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, defending some of the Justice Department’s moves while sparring with Democratic senators.

FBI Surveilled 8 GOP Members of Congress, Document Shows

The FBI surveilled Republican senators as part of its Arctic Frost investigation, a newly disclosed document shows.

Acting CDC Director Calls on Manufacturers to Break MMR Vaccine Into Separate Shots

A commonly used combination vaccine against measles should be replaced with separate shots, the acting director of the CDC said on Oct. 6.

Trump Says He May Invoke Insurrection Act in Portland If Necessary

President Donald Trump on Oct. 6 said he may consider invoking the Insurrection Act in Portland, Oregon, if necessary.

Trump: All Medium, Heavy Duty Trucks Entering US Will See 25 Percent Tariff on Nov. 1

President Trump announced on Monday that all medium and heavy-duty trucks entering the United States will see a 25 percent tariff starting on Nov. 1.

Treasury Names Social Security Commissioner as CEO of IRS

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent announced that Frank Bisignano, the head of the Social Security Administration (SSA), will also serve as CEO of the IRS.

Agencies Terminated, Descoped 94 Wasteful Contracts With $8.5 Billion Ceiling Value, Says DOGE

Various federal government agencies have terminated and descoped 94 wasteful contracts over the past five days, DOGE said in an Oct. 4 post on X.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central