The Georgia State Election Board (SEB) ruled in a 3-2 vote Tuesday that county election board members are entitled to a “reasonable inquiry” into election discrepancies before certifying the results of an election.
The rule, based on the Election Assistance Commission’s definition, clarifies that county election boards’ responsibility to certify an election allows them to do so “after reasonable inquiry that the tabulation and canvassing of the election are complete and accurate and that the results are a true and accurate accounting of all votes cast in that election.”
Members Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares, and Janelle King voted in favor of the rule. Chairman John Fervier, who was appointed chairman by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, voted in opposition to the rule alongside Democrat Sara Tindall Ghazal.
“I think by supporting this rule what we’re saying is that we stand with those who have to sign legal documents stating that their information is accurate and ensuring they have what’s necessary to stand by that legal document,” King said during the hearing.
It’s a similar sentiment expressed by Gwinnett County election board member David Hancock. Hancock had requested to see “documents” during the presidential preference primary and said Gwinnett County informed him he had to file an Open Records Request in order to see such documents. Hancock says he received the documents after certification. Hancock says the county provided him with the documents he asked for during the May general primary but during the general runoff primary in June, Hancock says the
