The Georgia State Election Board made a controversial decision on Friday, approving a rule that mandates a hand count of the number of ballots cast on Election Day. Despite objections from Georgia's Republican secretary of state, attorney general, and numerous local election officials, the measure was advanced by the board, with concerns raised about potential delays and confusion during and after the election. The move has intensified the focus on election administration in Georgia, a crucial swing state that faced unsubstantiated claims of fraud following the 2020 election.

The approved rule requires the poll manager and two poll officers in each precinct to physically count the paper ballots in each ballot box and compare the tally with that of the ballot scanner. However, many local election officials expressed reservations about the hand counts, citing the possibility of human error leading to discrepancies. While the rule pertains to counting ballots rather than individual contests - a demand from some conservatives in recent years - experts argue that hand counts are slower and less reliable than machine tabulation.

Opponents of the hand count rule highlighted concerns about the timing of the decision, noting ongoing poll worker training in many counties based on existing election rules. Ethan Compton, the elections supervisor in Irwin County, emphasized the preparation and readiness of election officials under existing regulations, urging against last-minute changes. Despite these reservations, the rule was supported by the three Republican members of the state board, who have faced scrutiny for pushing changes to how local election boards certify election results, now subject to legal challenges set for October 1.