The Republican-led group, Eternal Vigilance Action, has taken issue with Georgia’s new requirement that poll workers count the total number of ballots by hand, viewing it as another overreach by the State Election Board.

Led by former state Representative Scot Turner, a Republican, the group has amended its existing lawsuit to challenge this latest rule, which they see as an unconstitutional encroachment on the powers reserved for the state legislature. Turner argues that the unelected members of the State Election Board, whom he says are not accountable to voters, should not have the authority to enact such sweeping changes to election procedures.

The new ballot counting rule mandates that poll workers meticulously tally each individual paper ballot, rather than simply relying on the machine tallies, in an effort to ensure the integrity of the vote. However, critics contend that this could lead to significant delays in reporting results on election night, potentially fueling further doubts and conspiracy theories about the legitimacy of the process.

The State Election Board, composed of a Republican majority, has drawn intense scrutiny from Democrats, voting rights advocates, and others who fear these new rules could be weaponized to sow chaos and undermine confidence in the election, especially if the results do not favor the GOP. Turner and his allies, on the other hand, maintain that their legal challenge is driven by principled concerns about the separation of powers, rather than partisan motives.

As the high-stakes battle over Georgia’s election rules intensifies, the outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the state’s electoral landscape in the critical 2024 presidential race.