1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Hello, I am your constituent and I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent actions taken by the Georgia State Election Board, which I believe undermine the integrity of our electoral process, could significantly delay the reporting of results from Georgia, and sow chaos. The board’s move to grant local officials new powers over certifying elections is particularly troubling. While local oversight can enhance accountability, it risks introducing inconsistencies and biases in the certification process. This decentralization can lead to unequal standards across jurisdictions, further complicating the election landscape and eroding public confidence. The recent rule allowing election officials to conduct "reasonable inquiry" investigations before certifying election results is also concerning. This vague and subjective standard opens the door to unnecessary delays and potential partisan interference in the certification process. The proposed introduction of partisan poll watchers raises additional issues. Allowing partisan individuals to monitor polling places can create an atmosphere of intimidation and may deter voters from exercising their rights. Such practices undermine the nonpartisan nature essential for fair elections and can lead to conflicts at the polls. Additionally, the push for hand-counting ballots presents serious security risks. While transparency is essential, manual counting increases the chances of human error and is vulnerable to ballot manipulation, fraud, ballot loss, inaccuracies, and further erodes trust in our electoral process. Even the Attorney General's office has weighed in on these rules, stating that they “very likely exceed the board's statutory authority... and are, therefore, likely the precise type of impermissible legislation that agencies can not do." The Georgia Election Board has already aligned itself heavily with right-wing policies, including approving an investigation into the 2020 election in Fulton County. Faith and trust in the Board is heavily shaken and left many voters across the Country disenfranchised and distrustful of the voting process. As a constituent, I urge you to take a stand against these measures and policies. It is imperative that Congress work to protect the right to vote for all citizens, ensuring that elections are fair, transparent, and secure. I call on you to support legislation that safeguards voting rights and promotes equitable access to the ballot while maintaining the integrity of the counting and certification processes. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I hope to see decisive action that reflects our commitment to democracy.