Fulton County, Georgia, has filed a lawsuit against the State Election Board (SEB) amid escalating tensions regarding election monitoring as the November 5 general election approaches. The county alleges that the SEB has exceeded its jurisdiction and mishandled its responsibilities related to election monitors.
Fulton Election Board Chairwoman Sherri Allen criticized the SEB for providing conflicting information and failing to act on monitoring issues. With less than 30 days until the election, the county seeks judicial clarification on the roles of election monitors.
The SEB, which is controlled by Republicans, appointed monitors who have expressed skepticism about the 2020 election results, prompting backlash from Fulton County officials. In response to the lawsuit, the SEB issued subpoenas for county records from the 2020 election and for Fulton board members to attend a meeting.
Fulton County's lawsuit characterizes the SEB's monitoring efforts as a last-minute attempt to influence the upcoming election. SEB member Janelle King attributed the conflict to Fulton County's refusal to cooperate with the state monitoring team, emphasizing the need for compliance to ensure a smooth electoral process.
In a related development, the Democratic National Committee, supported by Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, has also initiated legal action against the SEB over a new rule requiring counties to count ballots by hand.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing disputes surrounding election integrity and oversight in the lead-up to the pivotal election.