Controversy Surrounding Georgia Secretary of State

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has publicly defended the state's election laws amid proposed changes by the State Election Board ahead of the upcoming November elections. Raffensperger emphasized his collaboration with the General Assembly to implement measures such as requiring photo ID for absentee ballots and ensuring rigorous citizenship verification. He criticized what he termed "misguided, last-minute changes" that could undermine these reforms. One significant proposal from the Georgia State Election Board involves counting ballots by hand at polling places on election night to verify the accuracy of machine counts. This proposal, which is currently open for public comment and set for a vote on August 19, aims to ensure that all ballots are accounted for and to prevent errors or collusion in reported results. However, Raffensperger expressed concerns that this method could delay the announcement of election results, potentially leading to misinformation. Raffensperger warned that the introduction of hand counting at polling locations poses risks to the chain of custody of ballots, which is crucial for maintaining voter confidence. He reiterated that the General Assembly had previously passed legislation to ensure timely reporting and certification of election results, and he urged the State Election Board to avoid actions that could disrupt this process. In a separate legal matter, Raffensperger is facing a defamation lawsuit related to his comments on a video alleging election fraud in Georgia. The lawsuit, brought by Texas Republican podcast host Jacki Pick, claims that Raffensperger's description of the video as "deceptively sliced and edited" harmed her reputation. Raffensperger's legal team asserts that settling the case would require him to endorse claims he believes to be false.