The Georgia State Election Board is set to discuss allegations on Tuesday that some county election boards are not properly investigating challenges to voter eligibility. This meeting will be the board’s final gathering before the upcoming Nov. 5 general election, where rules introduced by three members with ties to former President Donald Trump face legal scrutiny.
Mike Coan, the Election Board’s executive director, will present findings from an investigation into claims that eight county election boards, primarily in Democratic-led areas, are mishandling challenges that question the eligibility of tens of thousands of voters. These allegations were originally raised by the DeKalb County Republican Party, accusing the local board of not following legal procedures for reviewing such complaints.
The controversy surrounding voter challenges has been a persistent issue in Georgia, especially since the 2020 election, when Trump narrowly lost the state to Joe Biden by fewer than 12,000 votes. Many conservatives believe voter registration rolls need to be cleaned up, while Democrats argue these challenges aim to intimidate eligible voters.
Activist groups, using artificial intelligence tools like EagleAI to analyze data from Google, have been trying to identify voters who may have moved out of their registered voting districts. However, a study by TargetSmart, commissioned by the nonprofit Fair Fight Action, highlights the flaws in these methods, suggesting they often rely on inaccurate information such as outdated addresses or misleading data.
With millions of Georgians expected to vote either by mail or in person by Nov. 5, the outcome of this election could decide key races, including the presidential contest between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Georgia, considered a crucial swing state, will see early voting from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1.
Earlier this year, Georgia Republicans passed a law clarifying the process for challenging voter eligibility. It stipulates that challenges submitted within 45 days of an election cannot be addressed until the election results are certified. Additionally, challenges must be made by a registered voter from the same county or municipality and must include specific grounds for the challenge.
In January, a federal judge ruled that the group True the Vote, which had challenged voter eligibility in Georgia ahead of the 2021 Senate runoffs, did not violate the Voting Rights Act, as alleged by Fair Fight Action.
Fair Fight CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo criticized the recent voter challenges, stating that they are based on incomplete and flawed data, which could lead to the unjust removal of eligible voters. She warned that similar tactics used in 2020 may resurface to undermine this year’s election results.
The State Election Board has also come under fire for passing new rules regarding ballot counting and election certification, sparking lawsuits. A recent court hearing raised concerns about a rule requiring local election boards to conduct a reasonable inquiry before certifying results. Judge Robert McBurney, who is overseeing some of these lawsuits, noted that the rule is vague and requires clarification. His ruling on this matter is expected before the November election.
As legal challenges continue, the State Election Board has faced criticism for recent rule changes. At a Sept. 23 meeting, board member Janice Johnston defended the changes, assuring the public that the new rules were designed to prevent any last-minute questioning of election results.