The Georgia Republican Party has filed a lawsuit against Fulton County, claiming that election officials are violating state law by allowing certain voter centers to accept absentee ballots over the weekend, past the state-mandated end of early voting. In a statement issued late Friday, the Georgia GOP alleged that Fulton County’s actions are effectively extending early voting in predominantly Democratic areas.
The state GOP pointed to Georgia law, specifically subsection (d) of Code Section 21-5-385, which mandates that all ballot drop boxes close when the early voting period ends. “This is a blatant violation of Georgia law,” the Georgia GOP said in a statement, adding that these “patently illegal acts give us no choice but to immediately file suit.”
Fulton County hired 15 Republican poll workers and 789 Democrat poll workers.
Fulton County established four special ballot drop boxes to receive absentee ballots after the deadline.
Fulton County ordered staff to not allow observers into the buildings to monitor these drop… https://t.co/IkME1qCUdB pic.twitter.com/gpDjLJYEVq
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) November 2, 2024
Under Georgia law, the early voting period for elections begins on the fourth Monday before the election and ends on the Friday immediately prior. Although voters can return absentee ballots by hand or by mail before Election Day, the GOP contends that keeping voter centers open on the weekend effectively turns these centers into unauthorized drop boxes.
Fulton County election officials have reportedly stated that the weekend operations are intended “to accommodate voters seeking to hand-return their absentee ballots.” The Georgia GOP argues that this accommodation is illegal, claiming that local officials are exploiting conflicting statutes to circumvent ballot drop box restrictions.
The GOP’s complaint suggests that Fulton County’s decision disproportionately benefits Democratic voters, given that the centers staying open are in predominantly Democratic areas. “This must be stopped immediately, and those willfully breaking Georgia law should be held accountable,” the Georgia GOP stated.
BREAKING!🚨 The Georgia Republican Party warns of a last minute plan by Fulton County to ILLEGALLY accept absentee ballots in the final hour!
According to Fulton County’s press release they will be accepting absentee ballots Saturday and Sunday at four locations beginning at… pic.twitter.com/v89GAkdXon
— True the Vote (@TrueTheVote) November 2, 2024
The lawsuit reflects broader concerns over ballot security and election integrity in Georgia, where recent election laws were enacted to prevent extended use of ballot drop boxes. With the legal process now in motion, both Fulton County officials and the state GOP will present their cases as the court considers whether this accommodation violates Georgia’s election laws.
GEORGIA-
Fulton County is missing all of their in-person voting images.
They are also missing 17,690 mail-in ballot images.
That exceeds the margin in GA. pic.twitter.com/AB8C6l85sI
— suzy (@Suzy_1776) November 9, 2021
