As we gear up for the 2024 presidential election, Republicans are facing a tough reality with three recent defeats related to election rules.
On Wednesday, a Georgia judge put the brakes on controversial rules from the Republican-led Georgia State Election Board. Judge Thomas Cox determined that the rules— which called for county election officials to carry out a “reasonable inquiry” into election results prior to certifying them—were “illegal, unconstitutional, and void.”
His ruling sparks a debate, as Republicans argue these measures are necessary to prevent election fraud, while Democrats claim they inject unnecessary chaos into the electoral process, particularly if former President Trump loses Georgia to Vice President Kamala Harris. These rules, proposed in August, have faced legal challenges from the start.
Judge Cox pointed out that the “reasonable inquiry” rule would complicate the certification process by adding an ambiguous requirement.
The challenges continued on Tuesday, as another court ruled against a mandate insisting that all ballots be hand counted. Judge Robert McBurney highlighted the lingering impact of the January 6 Capitol riot, noting that anything that stirs uncertainty in the electoral process is detrimental to the public trust.
Despite appearing beneficial on the surface, McBurney warned that the hand-counting policy could lead to confusion and disorder at the polls.
Lastly, Republicans faced further setbacks when an Alabama court ruled that election officials improperly labeled thousands of voters as “inactive” and attempted to remove them from the rolls. Judge Anna M. Manasco noted that these voters had even been referred for criminal investigation, yet no follow-up actions had been taken.
While Republicans argue that these measures are crucial for curbing illegal voting, the court rulings suggest a growing wariness around voter suppression tactics.