Legal Rulings and Reactions
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox ruled against seven new election rules by the Georgia State Election Board, deeming them illegal and unconstitutional, thus blocking their implementation ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
The rulings were celebrated by Democrats, liberal voting rights groups, and some Republicans as victories for fair election practices, countering fears that the rules could be used to manipulate or delay election outcomes.
Controversial Rules and Public Response
Among the blocked rules was a requirement for hand-counting ballots post-election day, which critics argued could slow down results and sow distrust, while supporters claimed it would only add minimal time to the counting process.
The rules, passed by a Republican majority on the , faced opposition from both sides of the political spectrum, with concerns over their timing and potential to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.