The Center for Election Confidence (CEC) submitted administrative comment supporting the Georgia State Election Board’s (SEB) proposed Rule 183-1-12-.12, emphasizing the importance of transparent ballot reconciliation and certification processes to voter confidence. CEC urged adoption of the rule as written, noting that it implements the will of the General Assembly through O.C.G.A. § 21-2-493, which requires “correct and true election returns to be ascertained and reported.”

CEC explained that reconciliation—the process of comparing the number of voters checked in with the number of ballots cast—is “a basic best practice for free and fair elections” and a crucial safeguard that “serves as a check against election misconduct by ensuring that the number of ballots cast does not exceed the number of voters who cast ballots.” Georgia law already provides detailed reconciliation requirements, including procedures for resolving mismatches and mandates for criminal referrals when misconduct is discovered. As the comment noted, these statutory provisions offer “clear and concise notice to voters, candidates, parties, and others” so that certification “operates in an expected, understandable, and public manner.”

CEC argued that the SEB should incorporate these statutory requirements into regulation to eliminate confusion and reinforce transparency. “It is important that the regulatory language include the substance of the Georgia Code, consistent with statutory intent, so that neither elections officials nor voters, candidates, parties, or others are confused with respect to the requirements for reconciliation.” Doing so would also strengthen confidence in Georgia’s post-election processes.

CEC concluded by encouraging adoption of the proposed rule, stating: “Voters have confidence in election returns and outcomes when the processes used are understandable, open, transparent, and regularized. Adopting the statutory requirements for reconciliation into Georgia’s regulatory code will promote voters’ confidence in Georgia’s elections.”