A battle for transparency in Georgia’s 2020 election has stretched on for 1,071 days, beginning when the state’s highest court acknowledged a citizen group’s right to seek answers. VoterGA.org initially pursued access to the physical paper ballots, hoping to independently verify the results.
The quest for those ballots took another turn last year when the Georgia State Election Board issued a subpoena to Fulton County, demanding the ballots themselves, accompanying stubs, envelopes, and digital images. Fulton County officials, however, immediately challenged the subpoena in court, bypassing a formal vote by the Board of Registration and Elections.
Today, a pivotal ruling arrived from Judge Robert McBurney. He granted the State Election Board access to the 2020 ballots and related documents, a significant victory in the ongoing investigation. However, the county stipulated a hefty price tag: an estimated $400,000 to cover “document costs.”
Fulton County now has until January 7th to finalize the cost estimate for providing access to these crucial election materials. The prolonged legal challenges surrounding the 2020 presidential election in Fulton County show no sign of resolution as 2025 approaches.
The State Election Board’s renewed investigation was launched last year, fueled by concerns over how the 2020 election was handled in Fulton County. Judge McBurney’s decision represents a clear win for the Board’s efforts to scrutinize the process.
Fulton County Chairman Rob Pitts expressed frustration with the ruling, maintaining his confidence in the election’s integrity. He insisted the elections were “open and fair and transparent, and every vote was counted,” dismissing the legal challenges as unnecessary.
Adding another layer of complexity, Fulton County recently admitted to the State Election Board that signatures from poll managers were missing on poll tapes for over 315,000 ballots. This admission raises serious questions about the proper handling and verification of a substantial portion of the votes cast.
The revelation of missing signatures has ignited debate and scrutiny, potentially altering the narrative surrounding the 2020 election results in Fulton County. The fight for clarity and accountability continues, with the physical ballots now poised to be examined.
