The Georgia state election board has voted by a slim margin - three in favor and two opposed - to approve a controversial new rule that mandates election workers to hand-count ballots on election night. This decision has stirred concerns among voting advocates and local election officials regarding potential delays in reporting election results and fears of chaos following the presidential vote. The hand-count requirement may complicate determining the winner of the state's electoral votes in the upcoming November election, particularly amid heightened tensions and scrutiny surrounding the electoral process.

Hand-counting, often favored by those questioning the outcomes of the 2020 election, has been widely acknowledged to be slower and less reliable than machine counts. Despite strong opposition from some board members and conflicting advice from the state attorney general's office challenging the legality of the rule, it has been passed with a narrow majority vote. This development comes on the heels of another decision by the state election board to defer a proposal enforcing hand-counting during early voting, citing concerns over potential information leaks and the volatile nature of the upcoming election.

The attorney general's office has conveyed its stance that the rule of hand-counting ballots is likely illegal, emphasizing the lack of statutory provisions allowing such measures before tabulation. The memorandum issued by the attorney general raises doubts about the legality and validity of several rules proposed by the state election board, cautioning that they may overstep the board's lawful authority and potentially conflict with existing election statutes. Amidst mounting criticisms and debates surrounding the necessity and feasibility of the hand-counting requirement, the board is moving forward with voting on other proposals aimed at reshaping election procedures.