PRESS RELEASE: RightCount Georgia Applauds Court Ruling Overturning State Election Board Actions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2024

Atlanta, Ga. – RightCount Georgia applauds the decision by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Thomas Cox Jr., which invalidated seven last-minute election rules issued by the State Election Board.  RightCount, along with a coalition of current and former Georgia legislators, filed an amicus brief urging the court to invalidate recently passed SEB rules that exceeded its statutory authority and interfered with the province of the legislature.

RightCount Georgia Chair, former State Senator Eric Johnson, praised the ruling and highlighted the critical role played by RightCount’s amicus brief:

“This ruling is a resounding victory for the people of Georgia and the principles of fair and accurate elections. The court’s decision confirms that the State Election Board acted beyond its legal authority, and RightCount’s amicus brief was instrumental in ensuring this overreach was corrected. The now-invalidated rules would have introduced unnecessary delays and confusion into the certification process, and we’re proud to have stood up for our Constitution and the rule of law. We will always defend the transparency, stability, and constitutionality of Georgia’s secure election system.”

Judge Cox’s ruling upholds the argument that election rules promulgated by the unelected member of the State Election Board must be consistent with Georgia law as passed by the Georgia General Assembly. The lawsuit was brought forward by Republican plaintiffs, including former state Rep. Scot Turner, Chatham County election board member James Hall, and the election advocacy organization Eternal Vigilance Action. Cox’s ruling found that the State Election Board overstepped its authority by making rules that were inconsistent with Georgia statutory law.

On October 10, RightCount announced that it filed an amicus brief in support of plaintiffs challenging the SEB in the case of Eternal Vigilance Action, Inc. v. State of Georgia. Along with a coalition of nine current and former Georgia legislators, RightCount urged the court to invalidate recently passed SEB rules, asserting that the new regulations threaten the integrity of Georgia’s electoral processes and violate the constitutional separation of powers. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on RightCount’s brief. RightCount remains committed to educating the public and building trust in accurate and transparent elections.

For more information on RightCount’s efforts to protect election integrity in Georgia, please visit our website at www.rightcount.org/georgia.

Press Contact:
Jay Walker, jay@linkpublicaffairs.com

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