Revealed: supporters of Trump's big lie work as election officials across Georgia

[Nevilledog]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/13/trump-big-lie-georgia-election-officials

No paywall
https://archive.ph/LC5sP

The effort to install local election officials who promote Donald Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen has seen particular success in the crucial swing state of Georgia, where at least eight county election officials are promoters of the falsehood, a Guardian investigation has found.

The officials span the state, from suburban counties outside Atlanta to rural counties near the Tennessee and Alabama borders. All have substantial power over the administration of local, state and national elections in their counties, often with little oversight beyond scantly attended public meetings and small-town newspapers.

They include:

* one election official who has posted in support of a discredited election conspiracist who believes the alleged presence of bamboo in paper ballots is proof they came from Asia, and thus show interference from China;

* two officials who tried, on the basis of bogus fraud allegations, to decertify the results of the January 2021 runoff that resulted in the election of the state’s first Black senator;

* one official who insisted that Georgia’s election laws needed to change if Republicans were going to “have a shot” at winning future elections.

All continue to serve in their appointed positions as county election board officials in Floyd, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin and Spalding counties. None responded to requests for comment from the Guardian.

*snip*

[Hoyt]

1. Fortunately, none of those election officials are where it counts-- Atlanta, Savannah, Albany, etc.

If we vote, all they can do is whine and look stupid.

[Nevilledog]

2. They're attacking there also

https://www.vox.com/22607616/georgia-republicans-fulton-county-atlanta-voter-suppression-sb202-jim-crow

[Hoyt]

5. Despite Vox's concern, here is the reality--

Admitedly, the law allowing removal of local election boards is concerning. But even it is limited in GOPers' ability to steal an election.

". . . . . . .In Chatham, the five-person elections board, four of whom are elected, acts as the superintendent. If, after a performance review, the majority of the State Elections Board votes that the county elections officials demonstrated "nonfeasance, malfeasance, or gross negligence," then they can appoint a replacement superintendent.

"But this provision has limits. It can only be done in four counties at a time. Plus, it would be impossible to put an appointee into place during or immediately following an election, since the preliminary hearing required beforehand must be at least 30 days after the request to investigate. [The certification deadline for Georgia counties is even shorter now: six days after the election, down from the previous 10-day deadline. It's 17 days after the election for the state certification.]"

https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2021/04/07/georgia-new-election-law-republicans-overturn-results-senate-bill-202/7092460002/

I know it's not popular, but I think we'll survive Georgia's new legislation even if Courts don't change anything. I hope we don’t discourage voters by making it sound like their votes won't count. Just vote.

[Nevilledog]

6. I'm of the opinion that your opinion is most likely incorrect.

We're gonna find out.

[Hoyt]

7. Yeah, hopefully people won't stay home because we convince them their vote won't count.

The law ain't gonna change. So vote and forget the noise.

[Nevilledog]

8. Not sure why you're suggesting concerns about the election means I'm saying don't vote.

Election subversion is going to be rampant, ignoring it won't make it go away.

[ibegurpard]

3. Gwinnett and Forsyth counties

Are both large population suburban Atlanta counties. Yes they matter.

[Hoyt]

4. Well, we aren't going to get rid of them before November. I suggest voting.

[Hoyt]

10. Forsyth election officials just shot down a voter challenge.

https://www.ajc.com/politics/forsyth-elections-officials-dismiss-sweeping-voter-challenge/5JHVM6LUQVFPJJOJZ7WJVJGXLI/?fb_news_token=6Td%2BalhEgIwutqWHjiKHQA%3D%3D.%2BSYG1oUjv4dAnH5uH118SlXgcOizcpZqqgVgRc1LHBSAvfZwXzS6JW2%2BFNwYX%2FZHwzzeajopC3544xWnripX85RvtWPoxmQNhb0SETfszO0NCscSFAPtDV2b%2FmywMphJFSGvvoTIkx959WGDn5eYZeHf6gEfPWbH0hm9T77ppnUwr3Xa6jQ3LowszOv6LfiJoPdnDqwvZdj0Hqo8zTyez0NeVHEKbWEJ71m63m%2FeiG99RJpsS9IgMY6fBo2mVo5bbX0IVmcxpyMUWNdnfmmjHXTXg0rznP6%2Fb7sCXeuB7pCpi9zWcr%2FOvV9eyO7K9d2ZAzUrQdBpLPIc8%2FQFgMrEuGeODR%2Bs1bjsx5wV7A0QcjKytAc471KDkcxlmrPqeW5m%2FIbl8aetKz1SCc4migQMuvSRyrCpAP7%2BGdNThqCNPDCWv21%2BySg0v9lnrUbf0KCB&fbclid=IwAR3b0XoBl-6UMT-Yvr43GCewWbPeV9H9KvVjRBUVzHNg7QOnVwVSJrKsxTk

[UTUSN]

9. K&R