Why Georgia could again be centre of an election storm

This isn’t the first change of voting rules to spark uproar in an election year. Democrats triggered lawsuits four years ago after they broadened use of ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin and expanded postal voting in Pennsylvania.

But the difference in Georgia is that criticism is coming from both sides of the political aisle.

Georgia’s State Election Board comprises three Republicans, one Democrat and a chairman appointed by the Republican governor.

The role was historically procedural and nonpartisan, but in the aftermath of the 2020 election, the panels have emerged as a political lightning rod.

“Now, the job has turned into something that’s like partisan football,” said Gowri Ramachandran, director of elections and security at the Brennan Center for Justice, a liberal non-profit.

The state board was previously chaired by Georgia’s secretary of state, but Raffensperger’s fellow Republicans pushed him out after the 2020 election, a move critics say was revenge for his defence of the election results.

Since then, several Trump-aligned Republicans have joined and won a majority on the board: Ms King, Ms Johnston and former Republican state senator Rick Jeffares.

During meetings, the board’s three new Republican members have advocated for a number of changes to the state’s elections, including a rule passed earlier this year that allows local election boards to conduct “reasonable inquiries” into election results before certifying them.

Ms King argues the rule will lead to “an increase in certifications” because board members can examine documents themselves.

“We want to make sure they have as much confidence in that election as possible,” she said.