The potential for the Georgia State Elections Board to overtake elections in Fulton County won’t happen until a performance review is completed after the November midterm elections, according to legal counsel for the state secretary of state’s office.
Considerations by the state to install an interim superintendent that would have the authority to certify county results, close polling locations, and decide on challenges to voter eligibility can only happen after Fulton County’s performance review is finished later this year, an attorney for state Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told the State Elections Board on Monday.
Republicans in Georgia have long sought state control of the election review process in the state’s most populous county, especially after it rendered a key victory for Democrats in the 2020 election. The county was also one of the primary focal points of former President Donald Trump‘s election fraud claims, despite an independent monitor finding no evidence of irregularities.
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“Accountability and knowing that there are people watching the processes and make sure that they are trustworthy … that’s what we want and what the citizens want,” said State Election Board Chairman William Duffey, a former federal judge overseeing the board, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Ryan Germany, general counsel for Raffensperger, told the outlet Fulton County’s evaluation could be completed by the end of the year. There are still matters for the performance review to consider after the November election, including interviews with election board members and an assessment of operations after elections.
State Rep. Josh McLaurin argued Fulton County has made progress and is capable of running the midterm elections.
“The fact that they’re willing to allow a major midterm election to go forward under Fulton’s supervision proves the point that there’s no urgent crisis in the moment, and Fulton has done a lot to resolve its issues,” McLaurin said.
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The performance review is run by a three-person panel composed of Germany, Catoosa County Election Board Chairman Rickey Kittle, and Gwinnett County Election Board member Stephen Day.
Findings from the review will be reported to the State Elections Board, which will later hold hearings and decide whether to appoint a single elections superintendent or replace Fulton County’s bipartisan elections board for nine months.
