Thread by @MaxFlugrath

What if I told you the plot to block Georgia’s 2024 election results is largely being driven by one person?

An illegal meeting, election rule changes & a key player pushing Trump’s agenda — something big is going on behind the scenes in Georgia.

Here's why you should care. ⬇️

The @Guardian's Sam Levine (@srl) published a new story breaking down how Janice Johnston, a Republican-appointed Georgia Election Board member, has become the driving force behind MAGA’s efforts to obstruct the certification of election results. theguardian.com/us-news/2024/s…

@guardian @srl Johnston's rapid rise to one of the most powerful positions in Georgia elections is no accident.

She went from a relatively unknown poll watcher to a key player on the Election Board thanks to pressure from MAGA election deniers and Trump allies.

@guardian @srl .@FairFightAction's @GWLauren told @Guardian: [She] seems to be the one really running Georgia’s election board...By giving extremists who are all in on Trump’s 2020 election lies the power to block the certification of votes, she’s laying the groundwork for election chaos.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Johnston has led the 3-member Georgia Election Board MAGA majority to pass election rule changes that allow local election officials, many who believe Trump's lies about his 2020 election loss, to refuse to certify election results based on irregularities, without evidence.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren One rule change gives new power to election officials that makes their duty to certify election results discretionary, conflicting with state law which says the duties are mandatory.

The vague language allows MAGA officials to demand endless documentation & block certification.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Democrats are suing to block the election rule changes that conflict with Georgia law and could lead to post-election “chaos” in November. cnn.com/2024/08/26/pol…

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren On Friday, Sept. 20, the MAGA Election Board passed another rule change that seems meant to create a fail point in Georgia's election system.
newsweek.com/georgia-electi…

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren The rule change requires poll officers to hand count the total number of Election Day ballots cast and reconcile those totals with the totals reported by ballot scanners. motherjones.com/politics/2024/…

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren The logistical challenge of hand counting thousands of votes so quickly will likely lead to errors.

It seems the MAGA operation wants to create an election failure point so they can cry fraud and try to install Trump as the winner, even if he doesn’t earn a majority of votes.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Before the MAGA Election Board members passed this rule change on Friday, Sept. 20, the Georgia Attorney General warned that the rule change, and others, likely violate state law.

https://x.com/MaxFlugrath/status/1837132129940930774

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Johnston isn’t acting alone. She’s working with a network of election deniers who buy Trump’s Big Lie & some who aided his failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

They're changing rules to try & give themselves the power to install the leader that they, not voters, choose.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren In emails, Johnston coordinated with people like David Hancock, a Gwinnett County election official and staunch election denier, to strategize on how to delay certification and push election fraud conspiracies into the mainstream. rollingstone.com/politics/polit…

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren On the Election Board, Johnston has continued to push lies about 2020 election fraud (the results were affirmed by 2 different recounts).

During a May meeting, she suggested there could be over 17,000 ballots missing in Fulton county because ballot images had not been provided.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren The false claim about missing chain-of-custody documents in Fulton County – circulated by election deniers seeking to overturn the 2020 election – has been widely debunked. gpb.org/news/2021/06/1…

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren A lawyer for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, said unequivocally there were no missing ballots: “We have the paper ballots. The paper ballots exist. There’s no 17,000 missing ballots.” theguardian.com/us-news/2024/s…

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Regardless of the facts and reality, Johnston still filed a motion to have the Secretary of State deduct the 17,000 ballots – larger than President Joe Biden’s margin of victory in Georgia – from the certified vote total or investigate what happened. The motion failed.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Even more concerning, Johnston is coordinating with Trump allied election deniers Julie Adams and Michael Heekin, Fulton County election officials who have refused to certify elections.

This provides a clear picture of how far they’re willing to go. theguardian.com/us-news/articl…

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Johnston’s ties to Trump were revealed when he praised her at an Atlanta rally in August, calling her a “pit bull” fighting for “victory.”

Johnston waved as the crowd cheered, showing her allegiance to Trump’s election-denial agenda.

Here's the video. ⬇️

https://x.com/MaxFlugrath/status/1820156262551830767

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Trump’s praise isn’t just for show — it’s a signal.

By praising Johnston and the other MAGA board members at his rally, Trump is ensuring his base knows who to rely on to undermine Georgia’s election results if he doesn’t win.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Despite concerns about Johnston's actions from Georgia Republicans and Democrats, her influence on the Election Board has grown.

She’s become the leader of a MAGA voting bloc on the board that seems determined to block certification and sow chaos in Georgia’s election.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren More danger lies in the precedent Johnston's actions are setting.

If election deniers can obstruct certification in 2024, we could be looking at a chaotic future where election results are constantly questioned, undermining our electoral process, and weakening our democracy.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Despite all of this, it's crucial to remember that we, the voters, can still stop MAGA's plot to obstruct our elections.

As Georgia voters, we have real political power. MAGA wouldn't be working so hard to veto our votes if we didn't have the power to stop them.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren That's why it's so critical that Georgians show up to vote in this election — and don't wait until November.

Early voting starts in October. Make your plan today: .PeachVote.com

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren We can stop MAGA's scheme to install Trump in power by showing up to vote in huge numbers (too large for MAGA to lie about fraud), like we did in 2020.

Talk to friends, family & neighbors — especially those who don't usually vote.

We’ve beat Trump before. We can do it again.

@guardian @srl @fairfightaction @gwlauren Really appreciate your help spreading this crucial information!

If you want to turn out voters in battleground states, volunteer with
@FairFightAction:

Aren’t able to volunteer? Consider supporting Fair Fight with a contribution: fairfight.com/lfgv
secure.actblue.com/donate/ff-twts…

Please retweet the first tweet in this thread to share!⬇️

Make sure to follow @FairFightAction, a pro-voter org pushing back on MAGA's anti-voter plot.

Consider giving me a follow if you’re interested in Georgia updates.

https://x.com/MaxFlugrath/status/1837940713440293197