Washington Post: In Georgia’s chaotic primary, as many as 1,000 voters may have cast ballots by mail and in person, secretary of state says

09.8.2020 / By Amy Gardner
Washington Post: In Georgia’s chaotic primary, as many as 1,000 voters may have cast ballots by mail and in person, secretary of state says

The head of Common Cause Georgia, Aunna Dennis, called it “irresponsible” to speculate about “potential” double voting, possibly deepening voter distrust in elections systems. “We wholeheartedly agree that people who intentionally vote twice should be subject to the usual criminal penalties for election law violations,” Dennis said in a statement. “But we are concerned that voters who were simply trying to vote may get caught up in the dragnet.”

As many as 1,000 Georgians may have cast ballots in the June primary both by mail and in person, Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Tuesday, raising questions about how well poll workers in the state are enforcing safeguards.

Raffensperger’s office is investigating whether those who voted twice did so intentionally and whether two votes were actually counted in each case. Georgia’s June 9 primary was plagued by widespread problems with the delivery of mail ballots and long lines at the polls.

Raffensperger’s office acknowledged that many voters may have shown up in person because they were afraid that their mail ballots would not be counted.

The secretary of state said systems are in place to prevent double voting in Georgia. …

Voting rights advocates said they were troubled by Raffensperger’s announcement, coming at a time when President Trump has encouraged his supporters to attempt to vote twice to show that such fraud is possible.

The head of Common Cause Georgia, Aunna Dennis, called it “irresponsible” to speculate about “potential” double voting, possibly deepening voter distrust in elections systems.

“We wholeheartedly agree that people who intentionally vote twice should be subject to the usual criminal penalties for election law violations,” Dennis said in a statement. “But we are concerned that voters who were simply trying to vote may get caught up in the dragnet.”

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