ATLANTA — As the countdown to the upcoming elections reaches its final weeks, tensions rise between the State Election Board and Fulton County, Georgia’s largest county, over the establishment of a monitoring team to oversee election practices.
The monitoring team stems from a previous complaint against Fulton County, citing violations of state election codes uncovered during the 2020 election. Following an investigation, the State Election Board issued a letter of reprimand in May, mandating the creation of a consensus agreement regarding the monitoring team before the August meeting.
However, the two sides have failed to finalize their agreement. Fulton County has opted for a monitoring team proposed by a former top lawyer for the secretary of state’s office and a local nonprofit organization, while the State Election Board’s majority has suggested an alternative group that includes individuals who questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election results.
In late August, without state board approval, the county appointed its monitoring team, which has since been observing pre-election practices. The disagreement has intensified over the past week, culminating in a lawsuit filed by the Fulton County Board, which seeks judicial confirmation that the state board lacks the power to mandate additional monitors for the upcoming election.
During a recent State Election Board meeting, a member expressed concerns that Fulton County may not be honoring its agreement. She voiced her objections to the selection and questioned the thoroughness of the initial investigation into the complaint.
In a move to investigate further, the member proposed a subpoena for extensive election documents from the Fulton County Clerk’s office. This proposal received support from the Republican members of the board, despite objections from the board’s Democrat and nonpartisan chair, who cited a legal opinion stating that the investigation was closed.
An official opinion from the State Attorney General indicated that once the State Election Board makes a ruling, it cannot be revisited or challenged, a stance that Fulton County lawyers support, arguing that the initial reprimand effectively closed the case.
Fulton County, representing about 11% of the state’s electorate and a significant portion of Atlanta, has been under scrutiny for its election processes. Challenges such as long voting lines and delayed result reporting have attracted national attention, with significant claims made regarding voter fraud during the last presidential election.
Following serious issues during the primary elections in 2020, Fulton County and the State Election Board agreed to an independent review of the county’s electoral processes, revealing disorganization but no signs of fraud.
In recent months, the county’s election practices have seen improvement, leading the State Election Board to refrain from taking control after a performance review. In July, both the county and the secretary of state’s office approved the monitoring team suggested by the former lawyer involved in the prior review, dismissing alternative proposals.
The ongoing conflict was further addressed during the State Election Board’s September meetings, with members expressing dissatisfaction with Fulton County’s chosen monitoring team. Discussions surrounding the expansion of the monitoring team led to proposals being sent to the county’s election board chair, who indicated that changes would require approval from local commissioners.
As the situation evolves, the State Election Board remains engaged with Fulton County, with ongoing dialogue about compliance with monitoring agreements amid looming election deadlines.
