GAVREO urges State Election Board to pause future rule changes ahead of Presidential Election

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials (GAVREO) is urging the State Election Board (SEB) to halt all changes that would go into effect for the upcoming Presidential Election.

In a statement released on Tuesday, GAVREA cited the close proximity of the election, training that is underway for poll watchers and the general public’s conscience ahead of Election Day, which is 77 days away, as the primary reasons to pause any new election rules.

“We are already in the midst of extensive training preparation for our poll workers and preparing for one of the biggest and most scrutinized elections in years,” said W. Travis Doss, Jr., GAVREO President. “Any last-minute changes to the rules risks undermining the public’s trust in the electoral process and place undue pressure on the individuals responsible for managing the polls and administering the election.”

The SEB has faced scrutiny from Georgia officials, including Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who last week blasted a proposed rule change that would require three separate poll workers to count ballots at voting precincts on election night to make sure they match the number of ballots recorded by voting machines.

“Activists seeking to impose last-minute changes in election procedures outside of the legislative process undermine voter confidence and burden election workers,” Raffensperger said.