Election Integrity, Politics

Poll Watchers Allowed in Georgia Vote Count Centers Amid GOP Pressure

Doug Goldsmith
6 min read
3 comments
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Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Whatley has announced a reversal on poll watcher access in Georgia’s ballot-counting centers, following a directive initially barring their presence. This policy shift comes amid mounting tension and legal action from Georgia Republicans, who claim the Democratic-leaning counties’ extended ballot acceptance period violates state election laws.

The dispute began as election officials in counties like Fulton planned to accept absentee ballots past the official November 1 deadline, citing efforts to accommodate voters. Fulton County’s decision to keep polling offices open over the weekend for hand-returned absentee ballots was particularly controversial, as these extended hours deviated from what some Republicans argued is clearly outlined in Georgia’s election code.

The Georgia GOP quickly released a statement denouncing the move, calling it a violation of state laws. The statement cited Georgia Code Section 21-2-385, which specifies that drop boxes must close when early voting ends, a measure intended to ensure uniformity in ballot acceptance across all counties. “Fulton County election officials are planning to open four election offices this weekend ‘to accommodate voters seeking to hand-return their absentee ballots,’” the statement noted, expressing concern over perceived election irregularities in heavily Democratic areas.

The GOP further demanded that state authorities halt the extended access, arguing that allowing continued absentee ballot returns in these counties could undermine voter confidence. “We are calling on state officials to take immediate action to stop this and maintain confidence in Georgia’s election integrity,” the statement read, urging action to prevent what they viewed as an unfair advantage favoring Democratic candidates.

Amid the growing controversy, an email surfaced on Saturday from Kathryn Glenn, the Fulton County Registration Manager, which directed poll workers to prevent poll watchers from monitoring the receipt of mail-in ballots. “FYI – There are NO WATCHERS approved for ballot drop off! Do not let them in the building,” Glenn’s email instructed, further adding that security staff were to enforce this restriction. This instruction led to heightened objections from Republicans, who saw it as a violation of transparency.

The legal challenges from Georgia Republicans emphasized the need for oversight in ballot-counting centers, with their argument centering around the principle that poll watchers are a necessary safeguard against potential mishandling or unfair practices. The GOP underscored that restricted access to poll watchers undermines the integrity of the vote count, especially in a tightly contested election.

Following the backlash and ongoing litigation, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley announced that poll watchers would indeed be permitted into ballot-counting centers to monitor the handling of ballots. This move is aimed at re-establishing confidence in the election process by ensuring transparency, particularly in the counties under scrutiny.

The reinstatement of poll watchers in Georgia’s counting centers is expected to be closely observed as the elections progress. The GOP’s swift response and insistence on adherence to election laws underscore the heightened scrutiny on mail-in voting processes, especially in battleground states. With the national spotlight on Georgia, both parties are increasingly focused on safeguarding election integrity and ensuring that each ballot cast adheres to state laws.

Republican leaders at both the state and national levels quickly filed formal challenges and called on Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Governor Brian Kemp to intervene.

RNC Chairman Whatley criticized Democratic officials for “playing fast and loose” with election rules and confirmed the RNC would pursue legal action.

Following these efforts, poll watchers were eventually allowed entry to the affected locations. “After refusing to admit our poll watchers, Fulton County and other counties are now allowing our poll watchers to observe the voting activity occurring today,” Georgia GOP Chairman Josh McKoon announced on X.

McKoon added that the legality of extending early voting deadlines would continue to be challenged. “Our legal team is evaluating our next steps regarding today’s decision allowing this activity in the first place,” he stated.

Whatley also confirmed the access gained by poll workers on X, adding, “Our lawsuit over the offices remaining open is still pending, but we have eyes in the room as votes are being counted.” He reiterated the RNC’s commitment to “enforce Georgia law and protect the vote.”

Meanwhile, Georgia State Senator Greg Dolezal was in contact with the Secretary of State’s office to secure poll watchers’ access.

Later, he confirmed that two Senate colleagues were monitoring one of the locations, with Dolezal en route to inspect another. “Fulton needs to be held accountable for once again making up rules as they go,” he posted. “The GOP is in court seeking an order to sequester these ballots until their appeal is heard.”

Secretary of State Raffensperger welcomed the resolution but expressed concern that such a scenario arose. “The eyes of the world are on Fulton County,” Raffensperger stated, emphasizing the need for transparent and lawful election procedures, especially given the county’s history of election controversy.

As a key swing state, Georgia remains crucial for both parties, with the Trump-Vance campaign heavily invested in winning back the state.

Joe Biden’s narrow 2020 victory in Georgia by less than 12,000 votes, primarily due to high mail-in ballot turnout in Democratic strongholds, has added to the intense scrutiny of election protocols in the state.

3 comments

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  • As is customary in these Democratic dominate districts not only in Georgia, but all across America , these DEI hires think they can make the “law” instead of obeying it! They are so blatantly arrogant that they don’t even try to hide it anymore, just shove it in our faces and dare anyone to challenge them.
    I’m for prosecution of anyone responsible for tampering with our election process !

    Reply

    • Absolutely!!! My vote has already been negated by illegals. At one of the projects full of illegals they were asked 2 questions; Are you, 1. a citizen? and 2. are you registered to vote???. Almost all said no to #1 and quite a few said yes to #2. Does that say anything about the American Marxists

      Reply

      • I saw that video and can you remind me as to what the name of the apartment complex name was and also the name of the town in Georgia where it was located. I remember Alcott, Georgia and don’t know if remembering correctly. Also, has anyone contacted jerk, Sec. of State “Brad” to ask about this?

        Reply