Georgia Supreme Court declines to reinstate controversial election rules

Georgia's State Election Board members discuss proposals for election rule changes at the state Capitol
Georgia's State Election Board members discuss proposals for election rule changes at the state Capitol, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

The Georgia Supreme Court has declined to reinstate controversial new rules passed by the Georgia State Election Board ahead of the 2024 election.

The Georgia Republican Party and the Republican National Committee asked the state high court to reinstall seven rules ahead of the election after a judge found them “illegal, unconstitutional and invalid” in a decision last week.

The rules included two changes to how local election boards certify election results and another mandating a hand count of the number of ballots cast on Election Day.

Local and state election officials warned that the last-minute rule changes, advanced by Republican majority on the State Election Board who have been praised by former President Donald Trump, could create confusion, delays or disruptions and fuel misinformation about the integrity of the vote.

The Georgia Supreme Court only refused to grant emergency motions to reinstate the rules for the upcoming election or allow an expedited appeal to the lower court’s ruling.

The higher courts will likely next year consider whether the rules should remain permanently blocked.