A Georgia judge has blocked a new rule from the state’s election board that would have required counties to count ballots cast on Election Day by hand, citing potential delays and chaos in the electoral process. The rule was implemented too close to Election Day, according to the judge, and was seen as unnecessary and problematic by critics. The temporary injunction is a victory for Democrats who filed the suit, as well as for the Republican secretary of state and attorney general who opposed the rule. The rule, approved by three board members praised by former President Donald Trump, sparked concerns about delayed results and uncertainty. Hand-counting of ballots has been a focus for some on the right in response to unfounded claims about hacked voting machines, despite evidence that it is less accurate and more costly than using tabulators. The same Georgia board members also passed rules allowing for inquiries before certifying results, which critics say could add chaos to the election process. The ruling by the judge is likely to be appealed, but for now, the requirement to hand-count ballots cast on Election Day has been halted.
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Judge in Georgia halts rule mandating counties to manually count ballots on Election Day
