Democrats urge Kemp to remove State Election Board members

Caption

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath speaks in the Georgia Capitol, urging Gov. Brian Kemp to remove three Republican members of the State Election Board over "11th-hour" rule changes in August 2024.

Credit: Sarah Kallis / GPB News

ATLANTA — Georgia Democrats called on Republican Gov. Brian Kemp Monday to remove three GOP members of the State Election Board for approving “11th-hour” changes to state elections laws they say could disrupt the November elections.

The board has adopted rules changes in recent weeks that, among other things, would empower local election officials to delay or refuse to certify election results. Democrats say that could sow chaos and uncertainty following the Nov. 5 elections and pave the way for former President Donald Trump to capture Georgia’s 16 electoral votes, even if Vice President Kamala Harris has won more votes.

“What is unfolding in Georgia is nothing less than an effort to subvert democracy and move us backward,” U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta, said Monday during a news conference at the state Capitol. “We must not allow our State Election Board to be taken over by Donald Trump.”

“This is not just unethical. It’s illegal,” added state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, D-Duluth, who filed a formal complaint last week asking that board members Janice Johnston, Rick Jeffares, and Janelle King be removed from the board. “Their actions undermine the will of the people.”

One of the groups that has advocated the rules changes, VOTERGA, released a statement Monday arguing that none of the rules changes conflict with state law.

“We have led the election integrity movement in Georgia for over 17 years and believe it is important to distinguish the difference between Georgia election law and political theater,” said Garland Favorito, a co-founder of the group.

Democrats are asking Kemp to refer the complaint to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, which would appoint an administrative law judge to hear the case for removal.

A spokesman for Kemp said Monday the governor has received letters calling for removing the three board members.

“Due to uncertainty regarding whether this office has authority to act under Code Section 45-10-4 in response to these complaints, we have sought the attorney general’s advice regarding the application of the statute to the letters,” Garrison Douglas wrote in an email. “We will respond following receipt of this advice and further evaluation of the letters.”

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Capitol Beat.