March 15, 2025 Story by: Editor
ATLANTA (AP) — An independent monitoring team has determined that Georgia’s Fulton County conducted an “organized and orderly” election last year, a stark contrast to past elections marked by long lines, slow precinct reporting, and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.
In 2020, former President Donald Trump and his allies alleged, without evidence, that voter fraud in Fulton County—Georgia’s most populous county, covering much of Atlanta—cost him the election. Since then, Republican lawmakers have repeatedly pushed for greater oversight of voting in the Democratic stronghold.
Following widespread scrutiny of its election procedures in 2020, Fulton County officials implemented significant changes, including appointing new leadership in the elections department and establishing a centralized elections hub and operations center. These efforts appear to have yielded positive results, with independent monitors reporting “substantial improvement” in the county’s election administration compared to four years ago. “The overall conclusion was that Fulton County conducted an organized and orderly election process that enabled voters to cast their votes securely and conveniently and ensured that votes were tabulated accurately,” the monitors’ report, released Thursday, stated.
The report highlighted how centralizing election operations at a single hub enhanced public accessibility, reduced the risk of miscommunication, and improved security. Additionally, a newly implemented wireless inventory management system has strengthened the security and tracking of election equipment. The observers also noted well-documented procedures and secure chain-of-custody practices.
Recommendations for Further Improvement
While commending Fulton County for its progress, the independent monitors suggested several areas for improvement. They recommended increasing transparency to help the public better understand the election process, as well as providing advanced notice of absentee ballot return times, dates, and locations to prevent last-minute confusion, such as what occurred the weekend before the November election.
The report also advised the county to take steps to ensure that observers, poll workers, and other voters cannot see a voter’s selections on the large touch screens of voting machines.
Additionally, the monitors expressed concerns about the contentious nature of Fulton County’s election board meetings. The board comprises two Republican appointees, two Democratic appointees, and a chairperson. The observers suggested that a more cooperative and collegial approach would better serve the county’s voters.
During Thursday’s election board meeting, members of the observation team presented their findings. However, most board members opted to review the report thoroughly before making any comments or raising questions.
Ongoing Oversight and Past Monitoring
Fulton County’s election procedures have undergone scrutiny for several years. After a problematic primary election in 2020, an independent monitor was assigned to oversee the general election as part of an agreement with the State Election Board. That monitor reported “sloppy processes” and “systemic disorganization” but found no evidence of fraud or illegality.
In 2021, at the request of Republican state lawmakers, the State Election Board launched a nearly two-year performance review of Fulton County’s election administration, including monitoring the 2022 midterms. Ultimately, the review panel acknowledged significant improvements, leading the board to vote against taking control of the county’s elections.
To settle a case concerning the double-scanning of some ballots during a 2020 recount, the State Election Board voted in May 2023 to appoint a monitor for the county’s elections during the 2024 general election.
However, disagreements emerged over the choice of monitor. The monitor was to be approved by the county, the State Election Board, and the secretary of state’s office. The Trump-backed majority on the State Election Board objected to the monitoring team selected by the county and endorsed by the secretary of state’s office. With the 2024 election approaching and no agreement reached, the county proceeded in September with its chosen team.
The monitoring team included Carter Jones, who served as an independent monitor in 2020; Ryan Germany, former general counsel for the secretary of state’s office and a member of the 2021 performance review team; former Republican State Election Board member Matt Mashburn; and Lynn Bailey, former elections executive director for Richmond County. They partnered with the Carter Center, an Atlanta-based organization known for observing elections globally.
The monitoring effort was designed to be “impartial, transparent, and process-oriented,” with observations conducted from September through November, covering pre-election preparations, early voting, Election Day operations, and a post-election audit.
Ultimately, the observers concluded that Fulton County’s election staff were “dedicated and hardworking” and that they oversaw a “smooth, secure and accurate election.”
Source: AP News
