Kamala Harris Backs Democrats’ Georgia Lawsuit Warning of Election Chaos

With the backing of Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, Democrats in Georgia are suing to block the new election rules that could lead to “chaos” in the battleground state.
The lawsuit was filed by the Democratic National Committee, the Georgia Democratic Party and Democratic members from several county election boards. The group argues that the Georgia State Election Board violated the law with two rules that allow election officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying results and force counties to hand count ballots.
Hand counting the ballots could create chaos on election night, according to the lawsuit, which was obtained by The New York Times.
“We agree with Georgia’s Republican Attorney General and Secretary of State: This rule is unproductive and unlawful, and we are fighting it,” Quentin Fulks, Harris’ deputy campaign manager, told The New York Times. “Democrats are stepping in to ensure that Georgia voters can cast their ballots knowing that they will be counted in a free and fair election.”
The lawsuit is asking for the election superintendents to certify results this year no later than 5 p.m. on November 12. Under the current rule, it’s unclear when results would need to be certified and Democrats argue that delaying the certification could result in “mass disenfranchisement of eligible, registered Georgians.”
The complaint cites several cases, arguing that “Georgia law has long treated election certification as non-discretionary.”
“If election officials have concerns about possible election irregularities, they are free to voice those concerns at the time of certification, so that they may be considered and adjudicated, by judges, in any subsequent election contest,” the lawsuit said. “But they may not point to those election irregularities (or anything else) as a basis for delaying certification or denying it entirely. Absent a valid court order, certification by the deadline is mandatory.”
Georgia State Election Board member Janelle King told CNN earlier this month that the rules are “about protecting all voters.” Trump’s praised Republicans on the board, calling them “pit bulls” for victory.
“I am making sure I am doing the right thing,” King said. “I am appreciative of the [former] president’s support, but I am not working on behalf of anyone.”
In the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump lost Georgia by slightly over 10,000 votes. The state became the center of attention when he attempted to overturn the election and Trump was charged with illegally interfering with the election.
The case against Trump was paused in June until at least October, when an appeals court will hear arguments from the former president and his co-defendants.
This year’s election is likely to hinge on seven states and Georgia could be critical for Trump’s path to the White House.
FiveThirtyEight shows Trump leading Georgia by less than one point as of Monday. He is predicted to receive 48.1 percent of the vote, with Harris getting 47.4 percent.
A survey of 9,794 swing state voters published September 23 by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for The Telegraph found the state leaning toward Trump, who is leading by two points against Vice President Kamala Harris, with 48 percent support.