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“This is a blatant violation of Georgia law . . . which states ‘all drop boxes shall be closed when the advance voting period ends,’” the Georgia Republican Party said in a statement Friday. It noted that these four counties tend to lean Democratic, which has only heightened Republican concerns about potential biases affecting ballot collection practices.
Whatley voiced his concerns about the legality of the extended hours, adding that state guidance had been issued to ensure Republican observers were allowed to monitor the process. However, local officials reportedly continued to refuse GOP poll watchers entry to the buildings where ballots were being processed.
“Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties decided at the last minute to accept ballots over the weekend—which disregards the law. They have also failed to let our poll observers in to watch the process,” Whatley said.
Georgia’s GOP has raised additional concerns over the locations of the ballot collection sites. The party argues that these sites are situated in areas expected to favor Democratic candidates. Some Republicans have speculated that this move could influence election results by allowing a higher influx of absentee ballots from Democratic-leaning neighborhoods, further amplifying allegations of partisanship in the ballot intake process.
“Democrat officials are playing fast and loose with election law,” Whatley commented on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to the counties’ actions as a tactical maneuver to benefit Democratic candidates.
Further complicating matters, a judge in Cobb County ruled on Friday that certain voters who received their absentee ballots late may return them until November 8, three days after Election Day. This extension, which applies to ballots mailed out late to at least 1,000 voters—many of whom reside out of state—has added to GOP concerns. Republicans have pointed to this situation as another example of potential discrepancies in Georgia’s election administration and have vowed to scrutinize any decisions that appear to impact the integrity of the election process.
In response to these developments, Georgia Republicans are promising to take further legal action. The GOP is particularly focused on Fulton County, a known Democratic stronghold, after learning that election officials there planned to open four offices over the weekend specifically for voters to return their absentee ballots. Republicans argue that this provision undermines fair access, as state rules strictly limit the period for absentee ballot collection to the advance voting period, which ended on November 1.
“Drop boxes were available through Georgia’s early voting period from Oct. 15 through Nov. 1,” the Georgia Republican Party highlighted, noting that any ballots dropped off after this period could be ineligible under state law.
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While drop boxes allow voters to submit absentee ballots without direct human contact, Republicans argue that opening election offices for in-person ballot return past the designated period creates an unequal playing field. The GOP’s stance has resonated with many of its members, who are concerned that unauthorized changes in the ballot acceptance process could result in what they view as unfair advantages for Democrats.
The RNC has pressed local election officials to follow state law and allow bipartisan oversight during ballot processing. This incident has drawn significant attention as both parties prepare for a contentious election season, with Georgia once again becoming a focal point in the national election landscape.
As of now, the RNC remains committed to ensuring that Georgia’s election laws are upheld and that partisan bias does not affect the outcome of the vote. With lawsuits pending, the courts may ultimately determine the legality of the counties’ weekend ballot collection practices and whether GOP poll watchers have the right to observe the proceedings closely.
The situation continues to develop, and the RNC has indicated it will pursue all available legal avenues to ensure fair and transparent election procedures across Georgia.
