Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox in Georgia invalidated new election rules approved by the state’s Republican-controlled election board, ruling them unconstitutional and in violation of state law. The rules included a hand-count rule for Election Day ballots and rules tied to certification of results. Judge Cox stated that the board had no authority to implement these rules, declaring them illegal, unconstitutional, and void. The ruling comes after Judge Robert McBurney blocked a rule requiring hand-counting of ballots on Election Day, dismissing concerns about delays in reporting results. The ruling also stated that county election boards could not refuse to certify election results. These decisions come as voters in the battleground state began early in-person voting, with a record-breaking 300,000 ballots tallied on the first day, surpassing the previous record set during the 2020 election. The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office and the state election board did not immediately comment on the ruling. This ruling could impact the ongoing voting process and certification of results in Georgia’s upcoming elections.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
Judge invalidates Georgia election regulations orchestrated by Trump allies
