Georgia judge Thomas Cox invalidated several new election rules approved by the state’s Republican-controlled Election Board, deeming them unconstitutional and in violation of state law. The ruling applies to seven rules, including one requiring hand-counting of ballots on Election Day. Another rule, blocked by Judge Robert McBurney, would have allowed delays in reporting final results. The State Election Board and Secretary of State’s Office did not immediately respond to the ruling. The lawsuit was filed by two Georgia voters, one of whom leads an election policy advocacy group. They argued that the rules passed by the board could destabilize the state’s voting process. The ruling was praised by civil rights groups and the ACLU as a victory for voting rights. The state’s new election rules have faced criticism and legal challenges from the Democratic National Committee and state Democratic Party. The ruling comes as voters in Georgia have begun early in-person voting for upcoming elections. The battleground state, narrowly won by Joe Biden in 2020, has been the center of legal battles over attempts to overturn the election results. Former President Donald Trump and several allies were indicted last year for their involvement in these efforts, with the case currently stalled over disputes about the prosecutor.
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Judge strikes down Georgia election rules designed by Trump supporters
