Lawmakers, Not Voters, Should Choose GA Elections Head: Ralston

Cartersville GA

11 December, 2020

11:34 AM

Description

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia's Republican House Speaker proposed Thursday that the General Assembly — not the voters — choose the state's next top election official. Speaker David Ralston's proposal came in response to public anger at Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who's defied repeated attempts by President Donald Trump's allies to overturn Georgia's election results. "I think it's the only way to right this ship," Ralston said to The Marietta Daily Journal. "I don't do this disrespectfully to the incumbent who I have personal regard for, but I do it because we have a job to do as members of the House and members of the Senate." Ralston said he'll seek an amendment to Georgia's constitution to have lawmakers appoint the secretary of state. The upcoming legislative session starts in January. Ralston, an attorney from Blue Ridge, told the Marietta newspaper that he'd received numerous complaints from his North Georgia constituents over how Raffensperger has handled the presidential election. He also cited Tennessee, Maine and New Hampshire as states that appoint their head of elections. Raffensperger's office quickly shot back, with Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs calling Ralston's proposal a "power grab" that would "violate the will of the people." Democrats didn't like it either. "Changing the rules simply because you lose an election is not good policy," said outgoing House Minority Leader Bob Trammell, a Democrat from Luthersville. "Giving more fuel to this fire will do no one any good." Legal challenges from Trump and his supporters have forced Georgia to count its vote from the Nov. 3 election three times so far, with President-elect Joe Biden winning every time.