Georgia election board mandates hand-counting of ballots for 2024 election

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The Georgia State Election Board has voted 3-2 to require counties to hand-count all ballots in addition to machine tallies for the upcoming 2024 election. The decision, primarily supported by the board's Republican majority, means that ballots will be counted by election workers on the night of November 5, alongside the usual machine counts. This change has been welcomed by supporters of former President Donald Trump, who believe it will address concerns regarding voter fraud raised during the 2020 election.

Former Trump spokeswoman Liz Harrington praised the resolution, emphasizing its potential to ensure accuracy in the election process. However, the decision has also faced criticism from election officials and democracy advocates, who express concerns about potential delays, errors, and increased costs. In the 2020 election, Georgia's Secretary of State announced a statewide hand recount six days after Election Day, with results not certified until November 20.

Concerns have also been raised about the legality of implementing significant changes close to the election date, with the Democratic National Committee already planning a trial over separate rule changes made by the board.

An Oct. 1 trial will address these issues, with the Democratic National Committee arguing that the recent changes could create discord and delay result certifications.