John,

The Georgia State Election Board ignored 125 years of legal precedents when it adopted two new rules that would invite election certification disruptions.

Georgia law is clear: county election superintendents do not have the authority to adjudicate allegations of voter fraud or error—that is the role of the courts.

That’s why CREW objected to the new Georgia election rules in an amicus brief filed on behalf of six historians with expertise on Georgia’s political, legal and social history.

What’s happening in Georgia is part of an alarming trend across the country where country election officials are trying to expand their role and overturn the results of elections they don’t like. That’s an urgent problem for our democracy, because when election certifiers go beyond their proper role, it risks disenfranchising voters, increases the likelihood of political violence and injects chaos in what should be a peaceful and orderly election process.

CREW is dedicated to protecting the certification of the 2024 election. This work is important, and that’s why we’re asking if you can support our efforts to defend our elections with a donation today →

In August, the Georgia State Election Board passed two rules: one which gave county canvassing boards discretion to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” before certifying election results, and another allowing the boards to examine “all election related documentation created during the conduct of elections prior to certification of results.”

Our amicus brief cites four Georgia Supreme Court rulings that make clear election canvassers at the state, county, or local level do *not* have discretion to conduct wide-ranging inquiries that could change election results — rather, their job is to declare the mathematical result of the election.

Allowing the new election rules to stay in place would only lend credence to the waves of attempts to undermine the election certification process across the country.

The State Election Board should be enacting measures that bolster confidence in Georgia's elections, not ones that risk burdening election workers and legitimizing efforts to sabotage the certification process.

The new rules adopted by the State Election Board are unlawful and dangerous, and in accordance with 125 years of precedent, we believe that the Court should rule that they are invalid.

CREW will continue to stand up for election certification. Please, if you can, make a donation to CREW today to help us shore up our work to defend our elections and our democracy →

Thanks,

CREW HQ