Will Brian Kemp remove far-right members from the Georgia Election Board?
Democrats in the US state of Georgia on Monday called on Republican Governor Brian Kemp to remove three Republican members of the state election board because they approved last-minute changes to the state’s election law that they say could affect the November election.
The committee has passed rule changes in recent weeks that would, among other things, allow local election officials to delay or refuse to certify election results. Democrats say that could sow chaos and uncertainty after the Nov. 5 election and pave the way for former President Donald Trump to win Georgia’s 16 electoral votes, even if Vice President Kamala Harris received more votes.
“What is happening in Georgia is nothing less than an attempt to undermine democracy and set us back,” said U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Marietta) during a press conference at the state Capitol on Monday. “We cannot allow our state election board to be taken over by Donald Trump.”
“This is not just unethical. It is illegal,” added state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D-Duluth), who filed a formal complaint last week demanding that board members Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares and Janelle King be removed from the board. “Their actions undermine the will of the people.”
VOTERGA, one of the groups that pushed for the rule changes, released a statement Monday saying none of the rule changes conflict with state law.
“We have led the election integrity movement in Georgia for over 17 years and believe it is important to distinguish between Georgia election law and political theater,” said Garland Favorito, co-founder of the group.
Democrats are urging Kemp to refer the complaint to the state Office of Administrative Hearings, which would appoint an administrative law judge to hear the case for dismissal.
A spokesman for Kemp said Monday that the governor had received letters calling for the dismissal of the three board members.
“Due to uncertainty as to whether this office has the authority to respond to these complaints under section 45-10-4 of the Act, we have asked the Attorney General for advice regarding the application of the Act to the letters,” Garrison Douglas wrote in an email. “We will respond upon receipt of that advice and further evaluation of the letters.”
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