Georgia
Georgia First in the Nation to Require Police Training in Election Law
Chris Harvey had worked in law enforcement for decades and been an investigator for Georgia’s secretary of state when he was asked to take the post of chief election official back in 2015. After holding the job during what he calls the “craziest six years in Georgia’s election history,” he returned to the realm of law enforcement. He’s using what he learned to help police and election officials prepare for November.
In his new role as deputy director of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, Harvey has implemented training that outlines the obligations and duties of law enforcement under the state’s election codes. Last month, the council made Georgia the first state to require such curriculum as part of mandatory police training.
The controversies that arose during and after the 2020 election are still alive, and threats and harassment have increased as the 2024 contest approaches. A recent survey of local election officials by the Brennan Center found that more than half are concerned about the safety of their staff and colleagues; 90 percent have worked to increase security over the past four years.
Harvey is a member of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (CSSE), a group created to build closer working relations between election administrators and law enforcement. He wanted to be sure that officers in his state were well-versed in their authority around elections, including dealing with poll watchers, self-appointed observers and election officials, as well as their limits.
“The worst thing that can happen is for a police officer to respond to a scene, not know what their authority is, and not know what the laws are regulating that incident,” Harvey says. For example, Georgia law allows unpermitted, concealed carry of handguns, but forbids bringing a gun into a polling place.
The first step in making similar training possible in other states is pulling together the relevant sections of their election codes, a project CSSE and its partners have undertaken.
(Erich Schlegel/TNS)
Reference Guides
Law enforcement responsibilities regarding elections vary from state to state. For the most part, they are almost unknown to police. Harvey says he can guarantee those in his state have never read the statutes in the state’s election code that are specific to law enforcement.
This mattered less before elections and election officials operated under a cloud of manufactured distrust. Responding to the altered situation, CSSE has been distributing pocket reference guides for each state that describe the key penal provisions in its election laws, as resources for law enforcement and election officials alike.
Kathy Boockvar, who served as Pennsylvania’s secretary of state during the 2020 election, has been leading the creation of the guides, crosschecking them with lawyers and state officials. Only a handful remain to be completed, and she expects them all to be done sometime in August.
“The demand for these guides has been phenomenal,” Boockvar says. “Whether it’s law enforcement, election officials, district attorneys or nonprofits, folks who become aware of them have reached out to ask if their state is done, and if it isn’t, can their state be next.”
Georgia was among the first states to have a reference guide, and Harvey sees it as the “textbook” for his course. The International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training has asked him for a white paper that could help other states to develop their own training.
CSSE members are also available to fly out to jurisdictions to provide training assistance. This is a critical window for this kind of activity, says Tina Barton, CSSE vice chair. By September, election offices will begin to move completely into election mode. “We are working against the clock right now, and the clock is not our friend,” she says.
Shifting Scenarios
CSSE’s “Five Steps to Safer Elections” can facilitate conversations between election officials and local law enforcement, says Boockvar. These include guidelines and scenarios for tabletop exercises that give them opportunities to practice how they would respond to events such as threats to election workers or protests that threaten to boil over at polling places or counting rooms. “I wish none of this were necessary,” Boockvar says.
New scenarios for these exercises are being developed on an ongoing basis, Barton says, taking into account what’s being reported in the media or developments on the ground. “We’ve added in swatting, we’ve added in unknown substances,” Barton says. There’s a scenario in which a disruption breaks out when a non-citizen attempts to vote.
Barton knows what it’s like to be traumatized in the line of duty. She received numerous threats while serving as the city clerk for Rochester Hills, Mich., in 2020, including one serious enough to prompt federal prosecutors to charge the man who made it. On July 9, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised probation.
The fact that CSSE members are available to fly out to help with training and tabletop exercises has been reassuring to those who feel vulnerable, Boockvar says. Federal resources are also available, including the FBI’s election threats task force. Election security advisers are stationed in each of the 10 regions covered by the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA).
“If people are not in touch with their CISA regional advisers, that’s something they should absolutely do that could have impact between now and November,” Boockvar says. “Those folks can help identify gaps in their security — if they don’t know who their CISA rep is, they can contact CSSE and we can connect them.”
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, chair of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, offers an overview of its “Five Steps to Safer Elections.”
The Role Police Can Play
Harvey, the Georgia official, is aware that historically the presence of law enforcement at polling places hasn’t always been a positive, sometimes associated more with intimidation of voters than their security. He recognizes there are also practical limits preventing police from having a presence in every precinct. “Nobody thinks that’s a good idea,” he says. “Frankly, there aren’t enough cops to do that even if they wanted to.”
But it makes sense for election officials to have stronger relations with law enforcement, and not just because of safety issues. Harvey sees a lot of similarities between the two groups.
“They’re underappreciated, they’re underpaid, there aren’t enough of them, people take them for granted and only notice them when they do something wrong,” he says. “The funny thing is, both are generally fine with that — they don’t want to be front and center.”
MACON, Ga. (WGXA) — Middle Georgia Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has issued a statement regarding the U.S. and Israel’s joint strikes on Iran over the weekend.
According to other WGXA articles, based on reports as of early March 2026, the United States and Israel have launched major, coordinated military operations against Iran, labeled in reports as “Operation Epic Fury” and “Operation Midnight Hammer”. This follows months of failed nuclear negotiations and escalating regional tensions.
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WGXA asked Middle Georgia DSA, the largest activist organization in Middle Georgia, for their opinions on the strikes, and they responded with this:
The strikes on Iran, carried out by the United States and Israel, mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal act of aggression. The Iranian people do not deserve to live in fear of American bombs and of the instability of regime change. Americans do not want our tax dollars and the lives of our people to be wasted on opening up a new war in the Middle East, or on bombing girls’ elementary schools. We want relief from the affordability crisis. We want peace. Middle Georgia DSA unequivocally condemns these attacks and any politicians who cannot do the same. We do not want this, we do not deserve this.
DSA added that they are not currently planning any protests at this time, and that they “remain focused on improving the conditions of people who live within our communities directly, and do not feel a protest is the best strategy to deliver on that.”
Middle Georgia DSA condemns U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, calls escalation ‘illegal’, March 2, 2026 (Image is meant to say 2026 instead of 2025, Courtesy of GCSU Mutual Aid)
However, GCSU Mutual Aid, a grassroots, community-led initiative focused on collective care and resource sharing within the Milledgeville and broader Middle Georgia area. While not an official department of Georgia College & State University (GCSU), it frequently operates in coordination with student-led groups and local residents to address gaps in traditional social safety nets.
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GCSU Mutual Aid is planning a protest for Wednesday, where they will be “Marching for Democracy” in retaliation to recent events in the U.S.
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After a huge ratings boost in the updated Rivals300 rankings that now has Joakim Gouda as a top-30 prospect in the 2027 class, the Florida Gators remain in contention for the elite Georgia linebacker despite an apparent leader in his recruitment.
Gouda, once unranked by Rivals, is now the second-highest-rated linebacker in his class. He has seen multiple expert predictions to land with Kirby Smart and the in-state Georgia Bulldogs recently. However, the Gators have consistently been in the mix for the athletic backer under Jon Sumrall, with both schools making his top five, as well as Texas, Auburn and Alabama, and official visits scheduled to all remaining contenders.
Despite the smoke around Georgia, Florida will still have a strong shot at the 6-foot-2, 225-pound defender with plenty of time left before his decision is officially made.
“Florida is definitely still strongly in the race,” Gouda told Florida Gators on SI. “I’m just focused on building relationships and taking my time. I’m not rushing a commitment — I want to make the best decision for me and my future.”
Though the Gators offered Gouda only just over two months ago, Florida has wasted no time in aggressively pursuing the talented athlete, who is expected back on campus for a visit this spring on top of his scheduled official visit from June 4 to June 6. While still somewhat early in the building of a relationship, the new staff member has stood out.
“Florida sits in my top 5 because I really like the program and the energy around it right now. Even with a lot of competition, I believe in my ability to compete and contribute.” Gouda said. “I think I could fit in well with Sumrall and the new staff because I’m coachable, hardworking, and focused on team success. I like their energy and vision for the program, and that’s earned them a real chance in my recruitment.”
Florida’s chances will rely heavily on the next few months, however, as Gouda goes through his visits looking for the best program fit amongst multiple premier options. With a long way to go till signing day, the Gators will have plenty of time to prove to the elite prospect that they meet his criteria.
“From Florida, I’m looking for a staff that truly believes in me, a system where I can develop, and a culture that feels like family,” Gouda said. “A program will earn my commitment by showing consistency, developing players, and giving me the best opportunity to grow on and off the field.”
After making 100 tackles during junior season at South Pauling High School (Ga.), Gouda is expected to surge up recruiting rankings as he heads toward a decision next year. While becoming one of the largest risers in his class as of late, the four-star is not getting complacent.
“The attention on Rivals feels good because it shows people are noticing my work,” Gouda said. “…I think it’s just a result of staying consistent and improving every day, but I’m still keeping my head down and grinding.”
The Gators will likely be in it till the end for the potential future five-star Gouda, with Sumrall and staff looking to fight off Smart in his home state and land one of the more exciting prospects at his position in 2027.
More From Florida Gators on SI
VALDOSTA Ga. (WALB) – Family, friends, and law enforcement agencies from across South Georgia gathered at Martin Stadium to remember Officer Caleb Abney.
First responders from across the region stood alongside Abney’s family as Lowndes County opened the stadium for the service.
Lowndes County Board member Chris Buescher said community attendance was important.
“Obviously, these first responders give their all to our community. It is important to come out and support them. We are all heartbroken as a community as one Lowndes family,” Buescher said.
Abney’s ties to the community
Buescher noted Abney’s deep roots in Lowndes County, describing his connection to the area beyond his role in law enforcement.
“Caleb was not only a first responder in terms of the fire department, a police officer. He was a former Lowndes County High graduate. He was a former Georgia Bridgeman. So he marched on this very field that these last respects were paid to. So his mom and dad were big volunteers within the school system. So it is important to recognize the sacrifices these first responders make for all of us in the community,” Buescher said.
Procession travels through Lowndes County
The procession exited Lowndes High School and traveled through several roadways across the area. Family members, guests, and first responders made their way to Fellowship Baptist Church.
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