Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Judge Orders Observers Admitted to Georgia 'Bunker' on Primary Night

The order answers transparency complaints by allowing observation of the state’s centralized results room.

Overview

  • Fulton County Chief Judge Ural Glanville on Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order that lets bipartisan poll watchers and State Election Board members observe the secretary of state's final verification in the Election Night Reporting Room.
  • The decision followed a Monday emergency lawsuit by State Sen. Greg Dolezal, congressional candidate Christopher Mora, and Cobb County Commissioner Keli Gambrill, who argued state law requires public oversight and noted Brad Raffensperger is a candidate in the primary.
  • Raffensperger and his campaign said no ballots are counted in the state operations center and argued that oversight should focus on county election offices where tabulation actually happens.
  • Republican leaders also pushed for outside oversight, with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones urging the Justice Department to monitor the process and Rep. Clay Fuller asking Congress to send official observers.
  • The “bunker” is a secure Atlanta room where the secretary of state’s staff receive county totals, verify them for accuracy, and publish the statewide results to Georgia’s reporting system.