Fulton County, Georgia's most populous county and home to most of Atlanta, has taken a significant step in preparation for the 2024 general election. The county has hired a team of independent monitors to oversee its election operations, a move that has sparked controversy and highlighted ongoing tensions between the predominantly Democratic county and the Republican-majority State Election Board.
The decision to hire monitors stems from a case against the county involving issues during the 2020 election recount. Despite the State Election Board's proposal for monitoring, Fulton County chose a monitoring team that was opposed by the board's Republican partisans. This choice was within the county's rights, according to a legal opinion from state Attorney General Chris Carr.
Last week, county commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a $99,600 contract with a team led by Ryan Germany, a former chief lawyer for the secretary of state's office. Germany expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, "We look forward to working with Fulton County, and we think it shows a commitment to ensuring a well-run election in 2024."
The monitoring team includes Carter Jones, who previously oversaw the county's 2020 election, and Matt Mashburn, a former State Election Board member. Additionally, the Atlanta-based Carter Center, known for monitoring elections worldwide since 1989, plans to provide extensive assistance throughout the election process.
Fulton County has been under scrutiny for years due to various election-related issues, including long lines and slow result reporting. The county's election practices have improved since a particularly problematic primary in 2020, with a performance review last year noting marked progress.
"We look forward to working with Fulton County, and we think it shows a commitment to ensuring a well-run election in 2024."
The decision to hire this specific monitoring team has faced opposition from Republican partisans on both the State Election Board and Fulton County's election board. They argue that the team members were too closely involved in the 2020 election, which they claim Fulton County mishandled.
It's worth noting that Georgia, with its 16 electoral votes, has become a key battleground state in recent elections. The state implemented new voting laws in 2021 following the contentious 2020 election, which saw record-breaking voter turnout. Fulton County, with its 198 voting precincts and over 1 million residents, plays a crucial role in Georgia's electoral landscape.
As the 2024 election approaches, the independent monitoring of Fulton County's election processes will be closely watched. The involvement of experienced professionals and the Carter Center aims to ensure transparency and efficiency in the county's election operations, while also addressing concerns raised by various stakeholders.