Georgia Supreme Court Rejects GOP Bid to Reinstate State Election Rules

The State Election Board’s recently passed election rules will not be implemented during the current election cycle in Georgia. The Georgia Supreme Court has rejected the GOP’s attempt to reinstate these rules, which were previously deemed unconstitutional by a judge. The rules, approved by the State Election Board on September 20, included requirements for hand-counting paper ballots on Election Day or the day after, conducting a reasonable inquiry into election results before certification, and providing board members access to all election-related documentation. The court’s order, issued on October 22, denied the motion to reinstate the rules and rejected the GOP’s request for an expedited appeal. This means that the state’s rules will not be enforced during the current election cycle. Eternal Vigilance Action, which challenged the rules, celebrated the court’s decision as a victory against administrative overreach. The nonprofit, led by former state Rep. Scot Turner, filed a lawsuit on September 25, arguing that the State Election Board exceeded its authority in issuing the rules. The Republican National Committee did not comment on the court’s decision. Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon expressed disappointment in the delay of resolving critical questions about the election process and vowed to press the appeal in the future. In a ruling on October 16, the Fulton County Superior Court declared the seven election rules illegal and void, stating that the State Election Board lacked the authority to adopt them. The court also deemed certain provisions, such as requiring signatures and photo IDs for absentee ballot delivery, as unenforceable. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley criticized the court’s ruling as judicial activism that undermines election integrity. Georgia, a crucial battleground state in the 2024 presidential election, began early voting with a significant turnout. Chief Operating Officer Gabriel Sterling reported that over 25% of the state’s 7.2 million active voters had already cast their ballots by October 22. Please rewrite this sentence.

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