The Georgia Election Board will review allegations about the 2020 vote count and finalize a new rule for certifying elections in a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
The board, which will consider 15 proposed changes to election rules, has been at the center of political attention following praise from President Trump.
At a recent rally in Atlanta, Trump lauded three Republican board members—Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares, and Janelle King—for their efforts. “They’re on fire. They’re doing a great job,” Trump said, describing them as “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency, and victory.”
Last month, Johnston, Jeffares, and King attempted to approve election rules in a meeting that did not include the board’s other two members—Republican Chairman John Fervier and Democrat Sara Tindall Ghazal. This meeting was later invalidated by a unanimous board vote due to a lawsuit claiming it violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act.
The upcoming meeting is expected to draw significant public interest, particularly from Republican voters who have been vocal about election integrity issues. As Trump continues to assert that the 2020 election was fraudulent, his supporters have been active in voicing complaints at State Election Board meetings. The board has previously dismissed allegations of ballot-stuffing and ineligible voters.
Proposed changes include a requirement for a “reasonable inquiry” before counties certify election results.
Other proposals under review involve increasing access for election observers, requiring hand-counting of ballots after polls close, and conducting hand recounts rather than using machines. The board is also revisiting an investigation into claims that Fulton County double-counted over 3,000 ballots during a recount. While this did not alter the election “outcome” between Trump and Joe Biden, board members are seeking further accountability.
Fulton’s election board has approved a monitoring plan as part of resolving the double-counting issue. This plan is designed to ensure greater oversight of the county’s elections, though the broader board’s support for the monitoring proposal remains uncertain.
