Georgia governor calls for removal of MAGA election committee members after alarming votes

Georgia governor calls for removal of MAGA election committee members after alarming votes

Georgia’s governor has asked his attorney general if he could fire members of the state’s election board after three right-wing members agreed to a set of alarming new rules.

Republican Governor Brian Kemp asked Attorney General Christopher Carr for “guidance” on whether he could remove members of the state election board, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Previously, three right-leaning members of the five-member panel had pushed for and passed a series of new rules that would impose additional requirements on county election boards in certifying their results.

Under the rules, adopted this month – less than 100 days before Election Day on Nov. 5 – county councils must conduct a “reasonable investigation” before certifying the election. But the rules do not define what an investigation should include or what “reasonable” means, according to the Magazine Constitution.

County election committees are also required to hold a meeting on the Friday after Election Day, before the deadline for overseas and military voters to cast their ballots, to certify the vote count.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has asked his attorney general whether he has the authority to remove members of the state's election board after a coalition of right-wing members passed rules that were heavily criticized.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has asked his attorney general whether he has the authority to remove members of the state’s election board after a coalition of right-wing members passed rules that were heavily criticized. (Getty Images)

The three right-leaning members – Janelle King, Rick Jeffares and Janice Johnston – were recently praised by Donald Trump for their commitment to new rules. The former president called them “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory.”

Trump was indicted in Fulton County, Georgia, along with his former attorney Rudy Giuliani and others on election interference charges. Trump has claimed he lost Georgia to President Joe Biden due to widespread voter fraud, but there is no evidence to support this.

Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath called the body’s new rules a “concerted attempt to undermine democracy and set us back.”

“By passing this new rule, they are creating obstacles to vote counting and election certification, allowing Donald Trump to once again try to plunge our country into chaos,” she said.

The Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit challenging the rules, arguing that they could delay the certification and lead to disputes over the vote. Kamala Harris’ campaign team supported the lawsuit, according to Magazine Constitution.

“Certifying an election is not a choice, it’s a law,” said Quentin Fulks, deputy campaign manager for the Harris campaign. “A few unelected extremists can’t just decide not to count your vote.”

At least 19 election officials across Georgia have refused to certify various election results since 2020. King, one of three right-wing board members who pushed for the new rules, dismissed the criticism.

“I’m going to continue to do the right thing and let the Democrats play their political games,” King told the Atlanta newspaper. “We’re not doing anything that would affect the certification. If they have the information they need to issue the certification, they’re not even going to try to delay the certification.”

Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon also said the rule changes were “common sense rules that ensure election integrity,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“These rule changes in no way affect people’s right to vote, nor do they create an undue burden on poll workers. But these steps will ensure transparency, accountability, accurate reporting and voting,” McKoon added.

The Independent has contacted King, Jeffares and Johnston for comment.

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