Advertisement
Trending

Trump, GOP Score Big Victory In Georgia As Election Approaches

Advertisement

OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


In what was a massive victory for the Republican Party and former President Donald Trump, after being informed that poll watchers would not be allowed inside Fulton County, Ga., ballot counting centers, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley announced that they would be.

It came after a number of reliably Democrat strongholds announced that they would be open throughout the weekend to continue accepting ballots after early voting ended on Friday, which Republicans said was a violation of state law.

“It has come to our attention that Fulton County election officials are planning to open four election offices this weekend ‘to accommodate voters seeking to hand-return their absentee ballots.’ This is a blatant violation of Georgia law, subsection (d) of Code Section 21-2-385, O.C.G.A. § 21-2-382 which states ‘all drop boxes shall be closed when the advance voting period ends,’” Georgia Republicans said in a press release.

“This must be stopped immediately and those willfully breaking Georgia law should be held accountable. To make matters worse, the four election office locations are situated in areas of the county that will clearly favor Democrat candidates,” the press release said. “We are calling on state officials to take immediate action to stop this and maintain confidence in Georgia’s election integrity. Fulton County’s patently illegal acts give us no choice but to immediately file suit.”

The lawsuit threat came after Fulton County Registration Manager Kathryn Glenn informed county officials on Saturday that poll watchers would not be allowed in the counting centers.

Advertisement

“FYI – There are NO WATCHERS approved for ballot drop off! Do not let them in the building,” the email, which was sent to Fulton County election officials, said. “If they want to observe from the parking lot, you can’t stop that but they are not allowed to sit in the building. Have your security detail enforce it!!”

Republicans quickly approached Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Republican Governor Brian Kemp and asked them to intervene and allow poll watchers into the counting centers.

They threatened to file lawsuits and were quickly informed that the poll watchers would now be allowed in the centers.

“I have been apprised that after refusing to admit our poll watchers that Fulton County and other counties are now allowing our poll watchers to observe the voting activity occurring today,” Josh McKoon, Georgia Republican Party Chairman, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“It is unacceptable that the decision was made to open these locations without notice or authorization from any party charged with elections administration. Our legal team is evaluating our next steps with regard to today’s decision allowing this activity in the first place,” he said.

In his own post, Whatley confirmed that the poll watchers were allowed into the locations.

“Following our efforts, our poll watchers have now been let into the building in all four Georgia counties. Our lawsuit over the offices remaining open is still pending, but we have eyes in the room as votes are being counted. We will continue our aggressive efforts to enforce Georgia law and protect the vote,” he said.

Georgia State Senator Greg Dolezal said that he was in touch with he Secretary of State’s office and that two of his Senate colleagues were monitoring one location as he was headed to another.

Advertisement

“Update: @BeachforGA and Senator Albers have arrived at a location and been allowed access. I am en route myself to get eyes on the situation as well. Maddening way to spend a Saturday, and Fulton needs to be held accountable for once again making up rules as they go. The GOP is in court right now seeking an order to sequester these ballots until their appeal is heard,” he said.

Raffensperger warned that the “eyes of the world” would be watching Fulton County.

“We’re pleased that Fulton County has implemented our requirement allowing monitors in the spirit of Georgia law. But we are concerned that this was ever a question in the first place. The eyes of the world are on Fulton County. Local officials must ensure that every process from now until election day and after is transparent and in accordance with Georgia law, given the history of controversy in the county’s election administration,” he said.

Trending Now On The Web