Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of State for Georgia, is once again facing challenges to US democracy. After refusing to “find” the votes needed for Donald Trump to win Georgia in the 2020 election, Raffensperger received death threats. Now, he is battling a Maga-friendly majority on the state’s election board who have passed last-minute laws that critics argue could lead to post-election legal chaos or even violent unrest. Raffensperger acknowledges that there are “bad actors” out there and emphasizes the need for people who will stand their ground.
Efforts are underway in Georgia to prevent these bad actors from undermining the vote. This includes public education about voting systems and implementing security measures such as panic buttons for poll workers and training in antidotes for poisoning. However, officials at the county level are also laying groundwork to dispute election results if Trump loses in 2024.
The state election board has introduced new rules that allow local officials to halt certification of results for a “reasonable inquiry,” without defining what reasonable means. They have also mandated that all ballots be hand-counted, a move criticized as unlawful and unworkable.
With less than 50 days until the election and Trump and Kamala Harris neck-and-neck in Georgia polls, Raffensperger is touring counties to reassure voters about the safety of their votes. He demonstrates how Dominion Voting Systems devices are protected from tampering and explains how votes are digitally counted.
Challenges against the state election board’s new rules have been filed in court by campaigns like Harris’. Pro-democracy activists express faith in legal protections but warn of tactics aimed at creating uncertainty around elections.
Georgia has more election deniers than other swing states like Arizona and Pennsylvania. Republicans are accused of building an organized “election subversion war machine,” installing deniers in key roles while attempting mass voter challenges.
Raffensperger remains committed despite attacks from Trump, enjoying higher approval ratings than his predecessor but acknowledging his limited ability to drown out doubt about Georgia’s elections’ integrity.
If a large number of counties refuse to certify November’s vote, judges will likely be busy handling legal challenges.
