- The chairman of Georgia’s State Electoral Board has announced his resignation.
- The board has also looked into allegations of election fraud in 2020.
- Some have demanded that state elections be held on paper ballots and be manually counted at the board’s acrimonious meetings
The chairman of Georgia’s State Electoral Board, a former federal judge, has announced his resignation as of this Friday. During his term, the board worked to disprove erroneous allegations of electoral fraud relating to the 2020 presidential election.
William “Bill” Duffey Jr.’s retirement was announced by Governor Brian Kemp on Monday, even though his letter of resignation was dated July 18.
Head of Georgia’s electoral board
Duffey expressed his desire to resign in a letter after the board was changed by Georgia’s 2021 election law to a freestanding organization. Previously, the secretary of state served as its chair.
Since a new board structure has been established, Duffey said that it is crucial to choose the next chair with enough time to prepare for the 2024 election cycle.
The board of the Georgia Elections Commission (BEC) is in charge of establishing regulations for state elections and offering guidance on how to deal with individuals who transgress regulations and laws.
After a hack of the voting machines in Coffee County, Duffey—who was appointed in June 2022—played a key role in restoring confidence in the security of the voting process. The board has also looked into allegations of election fraud in 2020, including counterfeit votes and incorrect ballot counting.
After a review revealed that the administration had improved despite problems, the board decided against taking over the Fulton County elections. The board filed a lawsuit against Texas-based True the Vote in July, alleging that they improperly collected and deposited ballots in drop boxes in 2020 and 2021.
Some have demanded that state elections be held on paper ballots and be manually counted at the board’s acrimonious meetings. The chairman of the board is chosen by either Kemp or the lawmakers, and they are prohibited from running for office, making campaign contributions, or engaging in party politics.
Four other individuals serve on the board: two elected by the state House and Senate, one appointed by each of the Democratic and Republican parties, and one appointed by the state Senate.
In Georgia’s northern district, Duffey was appointed as a federal judge by President George W. Bush in 2004. He served there until he retired from the bench in 2018. Additionally, he oversaw the financing of Bush’s campaign in Georgia.
In addition to being a partner with Atlanta-based King & Spalding, Duffey served as Kenneth Starr’s deputy while he was conducting his investigation of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
