Liberal Judge Sides with Bureaucrats, Strikes Down Georgia Election Rules

If you thought the left wasn’t done meddling in our elections, think again.

At a glance:

  • A Georgia judge ruled that several election rules passed by the State Election Board were unconstitutional.
  • The struck-down rules included hand-counting ballots and expanding poll watcher access.
  • The Georgia Republican Party has vowed to appeal the decision, calling it a blow to election integrity.

A local judge in Georgia dealt a significant blow to conservative-backed election reforms on Wednesday, ruling that multiple new rules set by the Georgia State Election Board were “illegal, unconstitutional, and void.” The decision has sparked outrage among Republicans who see this as yet another liberal attack on election integrity.

The rules, which were rejected in their entirety, were designed to strengthen safeguards around Georgia’s election processes. They included hand-counting election ballots, expanding the monitoring of ballot drop boxes, requiring new identification for absentee ballots, and allowing expanded access for poll watchers. These reforms were popular with right-wing activists and were part of efforts to ensure transparency and security in future elections.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nWCuxnvCJk

In his sweeping 11-page ruling, Judge Thomas A. Cox found that the State Election Board had overstepped its authority. He argued that the board’s new measures violated Georgia state law, the state constitution, and even the U.S. Constitution. The court’s ruling essentially nullified months of work by the board, whose members had pushed through the reforms despite opposition from local election officials.

Judge Cox wrote, “The S.E.B.’s authority can only extend to adopt rules and regulations to carry into effect a law already passed or otherwise administer and effectuate an existing enactment of the General Assembly. The rules at issue exceed or are in conflict with specific provisions of the Election Code. Thus, the challenged rules are unlawful and void.”

The lawsuit challenging the election rules was brought by a group of Republicans known as Eternal Vigilance Action, founded by former State Representative Scot Turner, a Republican. Turner celebrated the judge’s decision, calling it a win for the Constitution and the principle of separation of powers.

“This is a victory for the Constitution and the principle of separation of powers. Every conservative should see this as a win and significant pushback on an unelected board making law,” Turner said.

During the hearing, Christopher S. Anulewicz, a lawyer for Eternal Vigilance Action, criticized the State Election Board’s actions as bureaucratic overreach. He argued that the board was acting like “Napoleon,” crowning itself emperor of Georgia’s elections. Anulewicz’s comments hit home with conservatives frustrated by what they see as unchecked power by unelected officials.

Meanwhile, Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon blasted the decision, calling it “totally nonsensical” and “entirely wrongheaded” in a statement. He indicated that the party plans to appeal the ruling. “These common sense rules will increase public confidence in elections administration,” McKoon said.

The ruling came just one day after a separate decision by the same court blocked another rule passed by the State Election Board that would have required hand counting of ballots during early voting. Judge Cox’s rulings have frustrated conservatives pushing for tighter election controls, especially as the next election cycle approaches.

As the political battle continues, Judge Cox’s order mandates that the state immediately inform all election officials that these rules are void and should not be enforced.

This decision represents a major setback for election reform efforts in Georgia, and conservatives are already preparing for a legal battle to reverse the ruling.