Democrats have been using intimidating tactics against Georgia Board of Registration and Elections (BRE) members, putting them in a difficult position. These members have the authority to review election procedures and ensure they are followed, but they are under pressure to certify elections even when there are issues like chain of custody problems or violated procedures.
Despite the Georgia election code stating that BRE members have a duty to conduct elections honestly and uniformly, they are still being pushed to certify elections under threat of legal consequences. A rule proposal has been submitted to the Georgia State Election Board to clarify the certification process and emphasize that it must be done according to the chapter’s requirements.
There has been increased scrutiny on BRE members’ role in certification, with some suggesting they could face prosecution if they refuse to certify. Board members have also received targeted letters from the Democratic Party of Georgia, further complicating their decision-making process.
The interpretation that board members must certify elections is flawed, as it should only happen after all other duties and procedures have been addressed. For example, board members should not certify an election before verifying that the number of ballots cast matches the number of people who voted. Failing to do so could lead to errors like the 3,000 duplicate votes counted in Fulton County in 2020.
Certification should only happen once all procedures have been completed, preventing board members from refusing to certify elections for political reasons. Board members play a vital role in ensuring the integrity of elections and should not be pressured into certifying without fulfilling their duties.
As partisan reports continue to push for questionable practices that undermine election security, the adoption of clear rules on certification could prevent intimidation tactics from being used to force board members to certify prematurely. The Georgia State Election Board will vote on these rules soon, and hopefully, they will uphold the integrity of the election process.
