Fulton County Dems Are Forcing GOP To Rubber-Stamp Elections

Democrats in Fulton County are reportedly refusing to seat two Republican election board members, Julie Adams and Jason Frazier, despite a court order mandating their confirmation. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners, led by Democrats, argues that no one should be compelled to vote a certain way, a stance that critics say is hypocritical given their opposition to Adams’s previous decision not to certify an election.

The Republican Party of Fulton County nominated Adams and Frazier in May to serve on the elections board. However, their confirmations have been stalled by the Democrat-led board, which has not complied with state law requiring that such appointments be accepted. Adams remains on the board as an incumbent, but the resignation of another Republican member, Mike Hegan, at the end of August will leave the board one member short unless Frazier is confirmed.

According to reports, the Fulton County Republican Party filed a lawsuit in June, which resulted in a favorable ruling in early August. Despite this, the commissioners have continued to refuse compliance with the court’s order. A recent court ruling described the board’s actions as a “bad faith” stall tactic.

Democrat Commissioner Dana Barrett stated that “no judge” could compel her to approve the nominations, while asserting her respect for the rule of law. Fellow Democrat Commissioner Mo Ivory echoed this sentiment, claiming that voting is discretionary and that no one should be forced to cast a particular vote.

This position has drawn criticism, particularly because Adams has faced opposition from Democrats for her own discretionary voting choices. Adams, who is also a member of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections, previously filed a lawsuit seeking clarification on her role after she opted not to certify the results of the March presidential preference primary. She argued that her refusal was justified due to a lack of access to essential election materials.

Adams’s initial challenge was dismissed on procedural grounds, but she later refiled. The same judge ruled that election officials cannot refuse to certify results under any circumstances, even if the results seem nonsensical. This ruling has been cited by Ivory as a reason to oppose Adams’s confirmation, labeling her as a source of “chaos.”

The Democratic Party of Georgia has previously threatened criminal charges against board members who do not certify election results, further complicating the situation. Gabe Sterling, chief operating officer of Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office, suggested that jurisdictions should have plans in place to threaten election officials with legal action if they do not comply with certification requirements.

As the November election approaches, the discourse surrounding election certification has intensified, with some media outlets labeling dissenting opinions as undermining the electoral process. Critics argue that the Democrats’ insistence on not being forced to vote contradicts their previous attacks on Adams for exercising her discretion in voting.

In summary, the ongoing conflict in Fulton County highlights the complexities and tensions surrounding election integrity and the role of discretion in voting among election officials.