In a critical ruling, a Georgia judge has halted an order mandating ballots to be counted by hand in the upcoming presidential election. Judge Robert McBurney cited a lack of adequate training for poll workers and potential "administrative chaos" as the primary reasons for his decision. The hand count rule, passed by a pro-Trump majority on the Georgia election board, faced criticism for potentially enabling delays in certifying election results. Critics argued that requiring poll workers to break open sealed ballots for a second count could lead to significant election interference.
The decision was praised by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Starting on the same day as the ruling, early voting saw record numbers, with over 328,000 ballots cast—a notable increase from the 2020 election's day-one record of 136,000 votes. This surge is significant in the battleground state, where Joe Biden won by a narrow margin of fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020.
Former President Trump, facing charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, called for a substantial voter turnout at a rally, invoking his longstanding claims of election fraud. Meanwhile, Harris focused her campaign efforts on mobilizing black voters amid reports of Trump's inroads with this demographic.
Judge McBurney's ruling reflects broader electoral tensions in Georgia, one of seven pivotal swing states in the 2024 race. The case is among several election matters being litigated, with McBurney also ruling on Monday that board members are required to certify election results after a previous refusal from a Republican appointee. The electoral landscape in Georgia remains highly contested, with both Trump and Harris prioritizing voter outreach efforts in the state.
The decision was praised by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Starting on the same day as the ruling, early voting saw record numbers, with over 328,000 ballots cast—a notable increase from the 2020 election's day-one record of 136,000 votes. This surge is significant in the battleground state, where Joe Biden won by a narrow margin of fewer than 12,000 votes in 2020.
Former President Trump, facing charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, called for a substantial voter turnout at a rally, invoking his longstanding claims of election fraud. Meanwhile, Harris focused her campaign efforts on mobilizing black voters amid reports of Trump's inroads with this demographic.
Judge McBurney's ruling reflects broader electoral tensions in Georgia, one of seven pivotal swing states in the 2024 race. The case is among several election matters being litigated, with McBurney also ruling on Monday that board members are required to certify election results after a previous refusal from a Republican appointee. The electoral landscape in Georgia remains highly contested, with both Trump and Harris prioritizing voter outreach efforts in the state.
