Georgia election rule changes by Trump allies raise fear of chaos in November

ATLANTA (AP) — Four years ago, Georgia was at the center of former President Donald Trump ’s attempts to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Democrats worry that Trump is at it again, even before the first votes have been cast.

Many Democrats in the crucial swing state believe Trump-aligned Republicans are laying the groundwork for another attempt to undermine the vote should the GOP nominee narrowly lose in November, this time by manipulating election rules.

The turmoil springs from a takeover of the Georgia State Election Board earlier this year by Trump allies after Republican lawmakers yanked the secretary of state, who had resisted Trump’s efforts to subvert the election in 2020, off the panel. The new majority started making election rule changes that have alarmed Democrats, legal experts and democracy advocates.

One provides for an undefined “reasonable inquiry” before county election officials certify results, while another allows county election officials “to examine all election related documentation created during the conduct of elections.” Critics say those rules could be used by county officials who want to refuse certification, igniting a legal firestorm at a time when statewide results would need to be certified.

State Rep. Saira Draper, an Atlanta Democrat who was the party’s state director of voter protection in 2020, said hindering a final statewide tally may not even be Republicans’ main goal.

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