Posted on Apr 16, 2021
Why Local Election Officials In Georgia Take Issue With Many Parts Of New Law
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Three weeks after it was signed into law, local election officials in Georgia are still trying to understand all the implications of the state's controversial election overhaul.
In a series of interviews, election officials said that while the Republican-led measure has some good provisions, many felt sidelined as the legislation was being debated, and believe that parts of it will make Georgia elections more difficult and expensive.
One provision that particularly worries many officials is a new ability for the State Election Board to take over a county's election management. The law empowers the state panel to take over if, in at least two elections within two years, the board finds "nonfeasance, malfeasance, or gross negligence in the administration of the elections."
Tonnie Adams, chief registrar of Heard County on the Alabama state line, said this provision, coupled with another change — which replaces the secretary of state as board chair with an appointee of the General Assembly — are problematic.
"The legislature now has three seats that they appoint on the State Election Board," he said. "We thought that that was a gross overreach of power from one branch of government."
In a series of interviews, election officials said that while the Republican-led measure has some good provisions, many felt sidelined as the legislation was being debated, and believe that parts of it will make Georgia elections more difficult and expensive.
One provision that particularly worries many officials is a new ability for the State Election Board to take over a county's election management. The law empowers the state panel to take over if, in at least two elections within two years, the board finds "nonfeasance, malfeasance, or gross negligence in the administration of the elections."
Tonnie Adams, chief registrar of Heard County on the Alabama state line, said this provision, coupled with another change — which replaces the secretary of state as board chair with an appointee of the General Assembly — are problematic.
"The legislature now has three seats that they appoint on the State Election Board," he said. "We thought that that was a gross overreach of power from one branch of government."
Why Local Election Officials In Georgia Take Issue With Many Parts Of New Law
Posted from npr.org
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Posted 3 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel From NPR;
"The legislature now has three seats that they appoint on the State Election Board," he said. "We thought that that was a gross overreach of power from one branch of government."
Many other Republican led Legislatures are following Georgia's lead... fearful of losing the offices they now hold. They want to "FIX" the numbers that aren't going their way. What hypocrites !
"The legislature now has three seats that they appoint on the State Election Board," he said. "We thought that that was a gross overreach of power from one branch of government."
Many other Republican led Legislatures are following Georgia's lead... fearful of losing the offices they now hold. They want to "FIX" the numbers that aren't going their way. What hypocrites !
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SFC Casey O'Mally
And here I thought that overseeing elections was the RESPONSIBILITY of the legislature.
I mean the US Constitution says "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof"
I don't know about each individual state, but that doesn't seem too ambiguous to me. Legislatures run elections. Therefore legislatures controlling the election board seems straight up common sense.
But what do I know.
I mean the US Constitution says "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof"
I don't know about each individual state, but that doesn't seem too ambiguous to me. Legislatures run elections. Therefore legislatures controlling the election board seems straight up common sense.
But what do I know.
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Wait... you mean if we are caught lying, cheating, ignoring rules, or just being bad at running our local election twice in a row, someone is going to DO something about it? Why are you persecuting us?!?!?!
Two or more times in two years. It is not like elections happen every day, every week, or even every month. That should NOT be a difficult threshhold to avoid. If I screwed up the most important task of my job even 10% of the time, you can bet I would AT LEAST be getting some extra supervisor love, if not outright fired. So would every NORMAL working person. Yet if you are an election official, evidently that extra supervision is "overreach."
And yes, it WILL make elections more expensive. That is what happens when you EXPAND VOTING. (Which, of course, didn't happen in this "oppressive voter suppression law.")
Two or more times in two years. It is not like elections happen every day, every week, or even every month. That should NOT be a difficult threshhold to avoid. If I screwed up the most important task of my job even 10% of the time, you can bet I would AT LEAST be getting some extra supervisor love, if not outright fired. So would every NORMAL working person. Yet if you are an election official, evidently that extra supervision is "overreach."
And yes, it WILL make elections more expensive. That is what happens when you EXPAND VOTING. (Which, of course, didn't happen in this "oppressive voter suppression law.")
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