During a Monday WarRoom discussion between Ben Harnwell, Jenny Beth Martin, and Catherine Engelbrecht, the focus was on the ongoing election-related tensions in Georgia, particularly in light of a lawsuit filed by the Democratic Party against the Georgia State Election Board. The conversation highlighted the implications of this legal action, which comes less than ten weeks before the 2024 presidential election, and its potential impact on the election process in Georgia, a key swing state.
“The Democratic Party’s lawsuit against these new regulations suggests a desire to maintain the status quo, which has allowed for potential manipulation and exploitation of weaknesses in the election system,” Engelbrecht said.
The lawsuit challenges a series of new regulations the Georgia State Election Board implemented, claiming that it is about election transparency and integrity. The regulations they are fighting include several measures to ensure a more secure and trustworthy election process. One of the primary changes allows local election boards to review election data and address discrepancies before the official certification of results.
IMPORTANT: This is a significant shift from previous practices, where local boards were often compelled to certify results even when unresolved questions or discrepancies existed, as illustrated by a 2022 incident in DeKalb County where machine counts incorrectly reflected vote totals.
Martin. of TeaParty Patriots emphasized that these new regulations are designed to address the kind of issues that arose in 2020 and 2022, where local election boards faced pressure to certify results despite lingering doubts about the accuracy of the vote counts. She highlighted the importance of these changes, arguing that they are not draconian measures but rather common-sense reforms aimed at ensuring that election outcomes reflect the true will of the voters. Martin pointed out that these regulations would provide election officials with better tools to ensure that all votes are counted accurately and that the certification process is based on thorough and reliable data.
Engelbrecht, co-founder of True the Vote, supported Martin’s views and underscored the importance of these changes in restoring public trust in the election process. Engelbrecht argued that the Democratic Party’s lawsuit against these new regulations suggests a desire to maintain the status quo, which she believes has allowed for potential manipulation and exploitation of weaknesses in the election system. She stated that the lawsuit reflects a broader resistance to implementing measures that would ensure a fair and transparent election process. According to Engelbrecht, the efforts of the Georgia State Election Board to uphold election integrity should be applauded, as they represent a significant step toward making elections more transparent and trustworthy.
The discussion also touched on the broader political and social implications of the lawsuit. Martin and Engelbrecht expressed frustration with the attacks from the left, which they described as predictable and often baseless. They noted that these attacks often accuse those advocating for election integrity of being racist or sexist, regardless of the actual motives behind their actions. Martin cited the example of Janelle King, a Black woman on the State Election Board who has faced accusations of racism for supporting the new regulations. Martin argued that such accusations are unfounded and detract from the real issues at hand, which are about ensuring fair and accurate elections.
Engelbrecht also discussed the need for continued citizen engagement in the electoral process. She encouraged Georgians to stay involved and vigilant, particularly in light of the State Election Board’s recent decision to move its meetings to virtual formats. Engelbrecht emphasized the importance of having a presence at polling places, ensuring that absentee ballots are reviewed thoroughly, and maintaining oversight of the election process to prevent any potential malpractices.
The conversation ended with a call to action for citizens to stand firm in their efforts to ensure election integrity.
Watch the full interchange from Monday’s WarRoom program:
