A lawsuit, supported by the presidential campaign of Democrat Kamala Harris, has been filed challenging the new election certification rules in Georgia. The lawsuit argues that these rules, approved by the State Election Board's Republican majority, could potentially lead to disputes over the vote count and delay certification, inviting chaos into the electoral process.

The 44-page suit, filed by the Democratic Party, highlights the concerns that the newly implemented rules could undermine the integrity of the elections in Georgia. The rules, which require a "reasonable inquiry" before county election boards finalize results one week after Election Day, have come under scrutiny. The suit aims to address the possibility of disputes over vote counts and the potential for uncertified results.

Worryingly, a survey conducted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed that at least 19 county election board members have refused to certify various elections since 2020, casting doubt on the effectiveness and uniformity of the certification process. Quentin Fulks, the principal deputy campaign manager for the Harris-Walz campaign, emphasized the importance of certifying elections as mandated by the law, stating, "Certifying an election is not a choice, it's the law. A few unelected extremists can't just decide not to count your vote."

This lawsuit further intensifies the ongoing debate over Georgia's election rules. The rules, passed by a majority of right-wing members of the State Election Board, received praise from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who referred to them as "pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency, and victory" during a rally in Atlanta. However, some Republican county election board members have refused to approve recent elections, asserting their ability to withhold votes despite the state law requiring certification.

In their objections, Republican board members have insisted on reviewing more documents or have raised concerns about discrepancies in a small number of ballots that would not have altered the final outcome. Janelle King, a Republican State Election Board member, defended the certification rules, arguing they are necessary to enhance the verification process. King stated, "There's nothing we're doing that will impact certification. If they have the proper information needed to certify, you won't see them even attempt to delay certification."

Under the new rules, county election board members have the authority to examine all election-related documents and can only certify elections after investigating any discrepancies. If errors are discovered, the boards must find a method to compute votes. The rules also require county election boards to hold a meeting to verify results on the Friday after Election Day, before the deadline for the return of overseas and military ballots. However, the requirement for a "reasonable inquiry" before certification lacks clarity on what constitutes reasonability or the details of the inquiry.

The lawsuit, which alleges a concerted effort to subvert democracy, was strongly condemned by Democratic U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath during a press conference at the state Capitol. McBath stated, "With passing this new rule, they are creating barriers to counting votes and certifying the elections so Donald Trump can once again attempt to throw our country into chaos."

The lawsuit seeks a declaration from a Fulton County superior court judge that election certification is a mandatory duty, that certification cannot be delayed, and the striking down of State Election Board rules that conflict with Georgia certification laws. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Party of Georgia, and Democrats serving on county election boards.

In response, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon defended the rule changes, claiming that they ensure election integrity. McKoon stated, "These rule changes ensure transparency, accountability, accurate reporting, and reconciliation without interfering with anyone's right to vote or causing undue burdens on election workers."

The outcome of this lawsuit will have significant implications for the electoral process in Georgia, as it aims to address concerns regarding election certification and potential disruptions in future elections.