The new rules in Georgia that are causing concern ahead of the November election have ties to a controversial group called VoterGA, led by Garland Favorito. Favorito, a computer consultant-turned-activist with a history of promoting debunked conspiracy theories, has gained influence in Georgia and has pushed for rules including hand-counting ballots on Election Day and giving partisan county election boards more leeway in certifying election results. These rules have added potential confusion to the election process in a key battleground state.
Despite some officials’ fears about the chaos these rules may cause, Favorito and VoterGA have been lobbying for them as part of their efforts to prevent alleged fraud in the 2020 election. They have hosted poll-watcher trainings, spread warnings about election insecurities, and criticized voting machines. The group has even received financial support from former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. Favorito’s rise in influence reflects the mainstreaming of election conspiracy theories in Georgia over the past few years.
Favorito contends that he and his group are fighting for election integrity and accusing state and local officials of covering up election malfeasance. He has pointed to the lack of access to review 2020 election ballots as evidence of potential threats to voters’ rights. State law requires that ballots be kept sealed after the election, making it difficult for individuals like Favorito to access them. Favorito’s history includes publishing a book in the early 2000s containing debunked theories about various historical events, which has raised concerns among some officials.
Favorito has connected with election officials in Republican-leaning districts in Georgia, including Deidre Holden, the director of elections for Paulding County, who has received helpful information from him. Other local officials have shared updates with Favorito on the opposition to the implementation of controversial state election rules. However, some election watchdogs have expressed alarm at the potential disruption and confusion these rules could cause, with concerns about the likelihood of errors cropping up during hand-counting on Election Day.
The relentless push for new election rules by Favorito and VoterGA has raised concerns about the propagation of false theories about another stolen election in November. Some worry that these efforts are laying the groundwork for more conspiracy theories if the election outcome does not align with certain expectations. Despite the challenges posed by misinformation and rule changes, officials like Gabriel Sterling are prepared to combat false beliefs about elections and are working to ensure a secure and transparent election process in Georgia.
Overall, the influence of VoterGA and Garland Favorito, fueled by conspiracy theories and efforts to challenge election rules, has raised questions about the integrity of Georgia’s election process. The debate over the new rules, allegations of malfeasance, and the spread of misinformation point to a contentious and complex electoral landscape in the state. As November approaches, concerns about the potential impact of these factors on the election outcome remain at the forefront of the minds of officials, election watchdogs, and voters in Georgia.
