The Georgia Supreme Court has ruled decisively in favor of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Georgia GOP, determining that election offices cannot extend voting deadlines for absentee ballots. The ruling specifies that absentee ballots mailed late to voters in Cobb County will only be counted if they are returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 5, 2024. This aligns with the statutory deadline set by Georgia law.
Approximately 3,000 absentee ballots were mailed late in Cobb County. Initially, a county judge allowed these ballots to be counted if they arrived by November 8 and were postmarked by November 5. However, the Supreme Court’s emergency ruling overturned this decision, emphasizing the importance of adhering to election deadlines.
Reactions to the ruling have been polarized. The RNC and Georgia GOP hailed it as a victory for election integrity, while organizations like the ACLU and various voting rights groups expressed disappointment, urging affected voters to prioritize in-person voting on Election Day if possible. This ruling underscores ongoing debates about voting access and election procedures in Georgia.
BREAKING: Georgia Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the RNC and Georgia GOP, stating that no election office can extend voting to accept ballots after Election Day.
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) November 4, 2024
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