A heated debate is brewing in Georgia over how to tally votes, stirring up memories of past election disputes. The State Election Board is considering a return to old-school methods, but not everyone’s on board.
At the heart of the controversy is a proposed rule that would bring back hand-counting of ballots on Election Day. It’s an idea that’s got some folks cheering and others raising red flags.
Sharlene Alexander, who helps run elections in Fayette County, is leading the charge for this change. She says hand-counting used to be business as usual in her area and beyond.
“It’s part of our history,” Alexander explained. “We did it this way for years until the state put a stop to it in 2022.”
The new rule would have poll workers team up in groups of three to count votes manually. They’d sort ballots into piles of 50, keeping at it until their count matched what the voting machines said.
But Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s top election official, isn’t buying it. He’s come out swinging against the proposal, calling it “misguided” and warning it could cause big problems.
“Our lawmakers set things up for quick results,” Raffensperger said. “This plan could slow everything down and mess with how we keep ballots safe.”
This isn’t Raffensperger’s first rodeo when it comes to election controversies. In 2020, he faced pressure from supporters of then-President Donald Trump. They wanted him to check signatures on mail-in ballots, saying it would uncover fraud. Raffensperger chose to recount the votes instead.
That decision didn’t sit well with many conservatives. They felt that just counting the same ballots again didn’t solve the real issue – whether those votes were legit in the first place.
Some see the new hand-counting proposal as a way to address lingering doubts from 2020. They argue it could boost trust in the system and prevent future controversies.
The State Election Board, made up of four Republicans and one Democrat, will make their final call on August 19. Their choice could reshape how Georgia counts votes for years to come.
As the Peach State gets ready for future elections, this debate shows just how tricky it can be to balance tradition, speed, and trust in the voting process. No matter which way the board leans, it’s clear that Georgians are paying close attention to every twist and turn in their election system.
