The Georgia Supreme Court issued a ruling Monday that prevents Democrat-led Cobb County from counting absentee ballots that arrive after Election Day, marking a major win for election integrity advocates. In this battleground state, where President Donald Trump is favored, the court’s decision reinforces that only ballots returned by Election Day will count.
The situation began when Cobb County reported that over 3,000 absentee ballots requested by the October deadline had not been mailed. Citing high demand, county officials said they were overwhelmed by a surge in last-minute requests, causing a delay in processing. Though the county sent the ballots via express mail, a Cobb County judge allowed the ballots to be returned up to three days after Election Day.
MAJOR GA SUPREME COURT CASE DECIDED
Cobb County didn't get ballots out as quickly as they should have and tried to change the rules of the game. GA GOP wasn't having it.@JoshMcKoon @JFRadioShow pic.twitter.com/UQWQgkMtBq— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) November 5, 2024
The Republican National Committee (RNC) and Georgia GOP quickly appealed this decision, arguing that state law requires absentee ballots to be returned by Election Day to count. They contended that adhering to a strict deadline was essential for election transparency and integrity, especially in competitive battlegrounds like Georgia.
The Georgia Supreme Court sided with the RNC, issuing a stay on the lower court’s ruling and requiring any ballots arriving after Election Day to be set aside. The court’s decision prevents late ballots from being counted, upholding Georgia’s original Election Day cutoff.
BREAKING: The Georgia Supreme Court just ruled that ballots cannot be accepted and counted AFTER the deadline by election officials anywhere in the state
Democrats in Cobb County wanted to accept 3,000 mail-in ballots AFTER Election Day deadline, but the Court just shut down… pic.twitter.com/ML7AtOY7Dm
— George (@BehizyTweets) November 4, 2024
Michael Whatley, RNC Chairman, praised the decision, saying, “Election Day is Election Day — not the week after.” The decision is seen as a step toward securing a fair and accountable election process in Georgia.
With Georgia’s high stakes and Trump holding strong support in the state, the ruling is expected to impact the outcome in this pivotal race. The court’s decision is being celebrated by those who see it as reinforcing voting deadlines in a key battleground state.
