The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that absentee ballots received after Election Day will not be counted, marking a significant victory for election integrity advocates.
At a Glance
- Georgia Supreme Court rules absentee ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted
- GOP leadership celebrates the decision as a win for election integrity
- Ruling overturns lower court decision that would have allowed late ballots in Cobb County
- Similar ruling in Mississippi challenges current state law on mail-in ballot deadlines
- ACLU expresses disappointment, urges affected voters to vote in person if possible
Georgia Supreme Court Upholds Election Day Deadline
In a move hailed by Republicans as a triumph for election integrity, the Georgia Supreme Court has ruled that absentee ballots received after Election Day will not be counted in future elections. This decision specifically states that only absentee ballots received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 5, 2024, will be included in the final tally.
The ruling comes in response to a situation in Cobb County, where approximately 3,000 absentee ballots were mailed late to voters. Initially, Cobb County Judge Robert Flournoy had ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted until November 8. However, the Supreme Court’s decision effectively nullifies this extension.
GOP Celebrates, ACLU Disappointed
Republican leadership has celebrated this ruling as a significant step, and one that aligns with their view that clear deadlines are crucial for maintaining voter confidence and preventing irregularities.
“HUGE election integrity victory in Georgia,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said.
Whatley further elaborated on the significance of the ruling, stating, “Democrat-run Cobb County wanted to accept 3,000 absentee ballots AFTER the Election Day deadline. We took this case to the Georgia Supreme Court. We just got word that we WON the case. Election Day is Election Day — not the week after. We will keep fighting, keep winning, and keep sharing updates.”
On the other side of the debate, the ACLU, which had filed the lawsuit along with the ACLU of Georgia and Southern Poverty Law Center, expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court’s decision. They have urged affected voters to cast their ballots in person if possible, and emphasized the importance of every vote.
Similar Ruling in Mississippi
The Georgia decision comes as a federal appeals court in Mississippi also ruled in favor of the GOP, declaring that mail-in ballots received after Election Day are illegal. “Federal law requires voters to take timely steps to vote by Election Day. And federal law does not permit the State of Mississippi to extend the period for voting by one day, five days, or 100 days. The State’s contrary law is preempted,” Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham said.
Election integrity will likely be a key issue during and after November 5, particularly given Donald Trump’s claims that Democrats are “cheating” in various states. On his Truth Social media platform, the former president wrote that large scale fraud was taking place in Pennsylvania.
