Georgia Dems demand governor remove three election board members

(The Center Square) — A group of Georgia elected officials has joined a coalition that includes civil rights leaders and clergy members to demand the governor remove three State Election Board members over what they see as violations of state law.

Last week, state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, D-Lawrenceville, said her office delivered a letter to the office of Republican Gov. Brian Kemp asking him to remove Janice Johnston, Janelle King and Rick Jeffares from the board, saying they violated its code of ethics and the state's open meetings law to pass new election regulations.

"Recently, I filed a formal complaint against three members of the Georgia State Election Board who have violated the very principles they swore to uphold," the state senator said in a Monday statement. "These violations are not just legal technicalities; they strike at the heart of our democracy and the trust Georgians place in our election system. ...Their actions undermine the will of the people, and we cannot stand idly by while they subvert the democratic process."

Senate Democrats said the governor has the power to remove State Election Board members in response to a report that Kemp has asked Attorney General Chris Carr for an opinion on whether he has the authority. Spokespeople for Kemp and Carr did not respond to requests for comment.

Elections have been a hot topic in the Peach State since the 2020 presidential election, with state lawmakers passing multiple election measures, including the high-profile Senate Bill 202, also known as the Election Integrity Act of 2021. Earlier this month, Georgia's election board approved a measure that allows county election boards to make a "reasonable inquiry" before certifying election results.

In a marketing email, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon pushed back on Democrats' assertions, saying the lawmakers' "rhetoric is dangerous."

"In no way, do these rule changes interfere with anyone's right to vote or cause undue burdens on election workers, but these steps will ensure transparency, accountability, accurate reporting and reconciliation, and preservation of the right for both parties to observe the processing of ballots," McKoon wrote. "These common sense changes will benefit all Georgians, regardless of political affiliation as they are all designed to increase transparency and public confidence regarding our elections."