Judge Blocks Georgia Hand-Count Rule Ahead of November Election

A Fulton County judge, Robert McBurney, has temporarily blocked a new rule from the Georgia State Election Board that would have required the hand counting of ballots at polling places on Election Day.

This rule, backed by Trump loyalist Janelle King, was challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration.

The board argued that the rule would burden poll workers, especially with the November 5 general election approaching.

In his ruling, McBurney emphasized that the rule was introduced too late in the election season, leaving poll workers without adequate time for training on the new procedures.

He noted that introducing such a significant change for over 7,500 poll workers, without proper training or time to adjust, would complicate the election process and could undermine public confidence.

The blocked rule would have required three poll workers at each polling place to hand count every paper ballot and match the count with machine-calculated totals.

While McBurney acknowledged that the rule is consistent with the board’s goal of ensuring fair elections, he found its timing problematic, adding that it would impose additional stress on workers after a long Election Day, with ballots being handled multiple times before being securely transported for official tabulation.

The injunction will remain in effect until a final decision is made. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee and several local officials have also opposed the hand-count rule, citing concerns about the burdens placed on poll workers and the potential for errors.

State and national Republican organizations, however, support the rule as a means of restoring public confidence in elections.

Judge McBurney also ruled that county election board members must promptly certify election results without delay. Another hearing on additional election rules being challenged is scheduled before Fulton County Judge Thomas A. Cox Jr.