A Georgia judge struck down a series of new election rules pushed by Trump-aligned Republicans, delivering yet another legal setback to efforts aimed at altering the battleground state’s election procedures ahead of the crucial November 5 presidential contest.
The judge, Thomas Cox, ruled that the proposed rules clashed with Georgia’s Election Code and overstepped legal authority. The changes, framed by Republicans as security measures, drew opposition from Democrats, who argued they were designed to obstruct the certification process in a state pivotal to determining the next president.
Cox ordered the immediate removal of the rules, which would have empowered local officials to investigate voting discrepancies and access extensive election documents. His 11-page order deemed these changes “unlawful and void,” signaling a decisive halt to the board’s attempts to intervene in the certification process. The decision cannot be challenged within Cox’s court, though an appeal is still possible.
This ruling is the third legal defeat in two days for Trump allies in Georgia, who have been met with strong resistance against last-minute modifications to voting protocols. Just a day earlier, another judge halted a rule mandating hand counts by poll workers and ensured county officials would still need to certify election results as required.
Georgia has become a critical battleground, with record early voter turnout beginning this week. Both parties view the state as essential to securing victory in the high-stakes showdown between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, whose allies have continued to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
The conservative group Eternal Vigilance Action, which initially challenged the rule changes, argued the board exceeded its authority. Even Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger criticized the moves, warning that such late-stage adjustments would erode voter confidence and create additional burdens for election workers.
Trump has publicly praised the three board members who supported the changes, calling them “pit bulls,” though the board’s decisions have drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Democrats, meanwhile, have accused Republicans of using these rule changes as tools to disrupt or delay the certification of unfavorable results—a tactic reminiscent of the chaotic attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
As legal battles over election rules continue, the fight for Georgia’s vote remains a microcosm of broader national tensions, with both sides bracing for the impact of every decision on the path to the White House.
