Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is opposing a proposal that would require poll workers to hand-count ballots on Election Day, calling it a “misguided” idea that could undermine public confidence in elections. The plan, put forward by Sharlene Alexander from Fayette County, would have three poll workers manually tally ballots and cross-check them with machine counts. Any differences would need to be resolved by poll managers.
Raffensperger argues that the proposal conflicts with Senate Bill 202, legislation aimed at expediting vote counting while safeguarding election security. “Quick reporting of results and certification is paramount to voter confidence,” Raffensperger stated, warning that hand-counting could delay results and compromise ballot management.
This isn’t Raffensperger’s first clash over election integrity. In 2020, he resisted pressure from President Donald Trump’s supporters to validate signatures for mail-in ballots.
Instead, he ordered a recount of questionable ballots—a move that critics argued ignored concerns about whether the ballots were legitimate, focusing instead on their quantity.
The State Election Board, composed of four Republicans and one Democrat, is expected to vote on the proposal on August 19. Alexander, defending her plan, said hand-counting was a tradition in Fayette County until it was stopped in 2022 by state election officials. She believes reinstating the practice would improve transparency.
The debate comes on the heels of another controversial decision by the State Election Board allowing extended time for verifying election results before certification. While some see this as a positive step, others worry it could lead to unnecessary delays. Raffensperger slammed the board as being controlled by “unelected bureaucrats” lacking real-world election experience, making this vote a crucial moment for Georgia’s election policies.
