Georgia Grapples with Hurricane Helene Fallout and Election Controversies
Georgia remains a pivotal battleground in the 2024 election, with both parties vying for its crucial 16 electoral votes. The state is grappling with the fallout from Hurricane Helene, which hit heavily Republican areas, and controversial election administration changes.
Despite the massive turnout on Tuesday, the process appeared to go smoother this year for some Atlanta-area voters. Approximately 252,000 ballots were submitted, setting a new record for the first day of early voting, according to Gabe Sterling from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.
However, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has presented significant challenges. Parts of Georgia are still recovering, and state election officials have confirmed that absentee ballots were dispatched by the U.S. Postal Service as planned and were not affected by the storm. Over 250,000 voters had requested absentee ballots, predicting that this number could rise to around 300,000, reflecting about 5-6% of all voters opting for absentee voting this election cycle.
The state’s electoral process has been marred by legal challenges from Democrats and other groups. Recently approved modifications to the state’s electoral process by Republican members of the State Election Board have sparked these disputes. For instance, a rule mandating hand-counting of ballots cast on Election Day might have been enacted too late to be applicable for this election cycle, and another rule requiring local election officials to perform a “reasonable inquiry” into election results before certifying them has raised concerns about potential delays in certification.
In the midst of these challenges, state judges are examining several new regulations introduced by the Trump-aligned Republican majority on the State Election Board. Democrats have raised alarms that these changes could lead to post-election turmoil in Georgia.
