Thread by @stphnfwlr

Happening now: House Election subcommittee meeting, hearing three bills that would weaken the State Election Board's rulemaking ability, strip the Secretary of State of SEB voting power and allow the SEB to take over local elections, respectively. #gapol

livestream.com/accounts/25225…

HB 491 says the SEB "may only adopt emergency rules or regulations in circumstances of imminent peril to public health, safety, or welfare" and would require more notice to more people (they already post rules+emergency rules for consideration tho)

legis.ga.gov/legislation/59…

Rep. Blackmon saying the SEB made emergency rules without any notification or oversight and that's just not true. They've been publicly posted+discussed+reported on.

For example:

https://twitter.com/stphnfwlr/status/1330552758211129344?s=20

HB 492 would remove the Secretary of State as a voting member of the State Election Board and replace them with an appointee of the governor approved by 3/5 of each chamber of the legislature.

Blackmon says it's about "checks and balances" with SOS.

legis.ga.gov/legislation/59…

HB 493 would outline a way that the SEB could intervene in county election administration, similar to Georgia's "Chief Turnaround Officer" (which didn't go so well, by the way). They could take over no more than 8 of 159 local elections offices.

legis.ga.gov/legislation/59…

Todd Edwards with the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia says there's concern with this bill, especially having the state come in and take over local control of elections. Also, who pays for the second group running elections?

https://twitter.com/stphnfwlr/status/1364205566592180225?s=20

Also, the issue with Park Tavern was two different polling places backed out (including one last-minute) that forced nearly 14k active voters to be assigned to that one location, which really is a COVID thing more than anything else.

https://twitter.com/CindyBattles/status/1364208798630637569?s=20

Now we're hearing HB 501, from Blackmon and @sheaforgeorgia, which clarifies that the text on BMDs be what's used in a recount (aka recounts would have to be full hand counts)

That would be quite expensive if it was a statewide race, fwiw.

legis.ga.gov/legislation/59…

We're adjourned. The next big elections hearing is at 3:30, more discussion about HB 531(which still doesn't have the first committee sub online, and nobody's seen the second committee sub yet either)