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Georgia Secretary of State criticizes Election Board's 'new activist rulemaking'

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Georgia Secretary of State criticizes Election Board's 'new activist rulemaking'


Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger tours the Paulding County election office on Aug. 13, 2024.  (FOX 5)

Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, on Thursday expressed opposition to proposed changes to election procedures currently under consideration by the State Election Board, particularly rejecting a suggestion to count ballots by hand at polling places on election night. 

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The State Election Board advanced a proposal in July that would require three separate poll workers to count ballots at voting precincts on election night to ensure that they match the number of ballots recorded by voting machines. This proposal is now open for public comment, and the board is set to vote on Monday regarding its adoption. 

Raffensperger, the state’s top elections official, criticized the effort as “misguided,” arguing that it would delay the reporting of election results and introduce risks to the chain of custody for ballots. 

“Activists seeking to impose last-minute changes in election procedures outside of the legislative process undermine voter confidence and burden election workers,” Raffensperger said in a news release. 

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In recent months, the State Election Board has received numerous rule proposals, many originating from activists aligned with former President Donald Trump. Trump has continued to assert, without evidence, that widespread voter fraud led to his loss in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election. Raffensperger has been a consistent defender of the integrity of that election, a stance that has drawn the ire of Trump and his supporters. Three of the five members of the State Election Board are Republican partisans whom Trump praised by name during a campaign rally last month in Atlanta. 

SEE ALSO: Georgia officials bolster voting system security for 2024 presidential election

Sharlene Alexander, a member of the Fayette County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, submitted the proposal for three poll workers to hand count ballots, with the workers sorting them into stacks of 50 ballots until all have been counted and the three workers have arrived at the same total. If the total does not match the numbers recorded on the voter check-in system, the electronic voting machines, and the scanner recap forms, the poll manager is to determine the reason for the discrepancy and, if possible, correct it. 

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Alexander argued in her proposal that hand counting ballots was a “long-standing tradition” in Fayette County and other areas, a practice that ceased after Blake Evans, the director of elections for the secretary of state’s office, sent an email to county election officials in October 2022 advising against it. 

“I know that many counties have received an email requesting that poll workers hand count ballots at polling places on election night. Deciding to have poll workers hand count ballots at each polling location on election night is not something your poll workers should do,” Evans wrote in the email, which Alexander attached to her proposal. 

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Evans cited sections of Georgia law and State Election Board rules regarding the handling of ballots at polling places on election night. He emphasized that “to ensure maximum security for the voted ballots, poll workers should not prolong the process of removing ballots from ballot boxes and sealing them in transport containers.” 

In the news release issued Thursday, Raffensperger referred to the State Election Board members as “unelected bureaucrats who have never run an election” and stated that they “seem to reject the advice” of individuals with election experience. 

The State Election Board comprises five members: one appointed by the state House, one chosen by the state Senate, one each from the Republican and Democratic parties, and a nonpartisan chair selected by the General Assembly or by the governor if the General Assembly is not in session when there is a vacancy. 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report



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Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit

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Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit


The Georgia Bulldogs are trying to flip cornerback recruit Preston Glasco just over a week after he committed to the Connecticut Huskies.

Glasco, a member of the class of 2027, announced his commitment to UConn on June 10. Since committing to UCONN, Georgia has hosted Glasco on an official visit and offered him a scholarship (back on June 18).

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has excellent length and size. Glasco has impressive athleticism and ran a 4.47-4.57 second 40-yard dash (hand timed) during a recent workout with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Glasco plays high school football for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He’s unranked as a recruit, but that’s bound to change soon. The unranked cornerback plays against a stout level of competition at Grayson, who is a Georgia high school powerhouse.

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Glasco has scholarship offers from Army, Yale, Boston College, Penn and more. He’s a great student and appears to be healthy after he was recovering from a surgery around this time last year. The talented Grayson cornerback has also gone on recent visits to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia currently don’t have any cornerback commitments in the class of 2027.

Georgia football offers Preston Glasco

“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia,” Glasco said after Georgia offered him.

Glasco visits UGA football

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Threads for more Georgia football recruiting coverage! 





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Georgia Lottery Powerball, Cash 3 results for June 20, 2026

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The Georgia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 20, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 20 drawing

16-20-44-48-50, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 0-9-2

Evening: 9-6-9

Night: 2-4-6

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 0-1-2-5

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Evening: 1-8-1-5

Night: 5-4-6-0

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 20 drawing

Early Bird: 06

Matinee: 03

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Drive Time: 09

Primetime: 06

Night Owl: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Georgia FIVE numbers from June 20 drawing

Midday: 4-0-5-8-9

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Evening: 3-3-9-2-2

Check Georgia FIVE payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from June 20 drawing

01-09-10-15-42

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 20 drawing

01-10-16-30-31, Bonus: 04

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Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes under $601: Can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery retail location. ALL PRIZES can be claimed by mail to: Georgia Lottery Corporation, P.O. Box 56966, Atlanta, GA 30343.
  • Prizes over $600: Must be claimed at Georgia Lottery Headquarters or any Georgia Lottery district office or mailed to the Georgia Lottery for payment.

When are the Georgia Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Cash 3 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 3 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 3 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 4 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 4 (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash 4 (Night): 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Early Bird): 8 a.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Matinee): 1 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Drive Time): 5 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Primetime): 8 p.m. ET daily.
  • Cash Pop (Night Owl): 11:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Georgia FIVE (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
  • Georgia FIVE (Evening): 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
  • Fantasy 5: 11:34 p.m. ET daily.
  • Jumbo Bucks Lotto: 11 p.m. ET on Monday and Thursday.
  • Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Georgia editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Democrats block local property tax referendums as Georgia lawmakers clash over affordability  – The Current

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Democrats block local property tax referendums as Georgia lawmakers clash over affordability  – The Current


House Republicans are attempting to pass a wave of local property tax measures during an ongoing special session that would allow communities to vote on whether to raise their sales taxes to give homeowners a tax break. 

But Democrats have so far successfully blocked the effort, stymying GOP lawmakers from putting the question before voters this November. They argue the change represents a new tax that shifts the burden of paying for local services from homeowners to lower income Georgians – and they question the rush to put it before voters this year. 

An attempt to pass dozens of local property tax measures failed Saturday in both the House and Senate, but Republicans say they aren’t giving up. Lawmakers will be back Monday for a special session that has no set end date. 

“We still have a chance to get this right,” said Rep. Shaw Blackmon, a Bonaire Republican who has led the House GOP’s efforts to target local property taxes. 

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House Republican leaders have prioritized property tax relief this year, saying it is needed to curb rising property taxes and help people who are struggling to stay in their homes. They unsuccessfully pushed to eliminate local property taxes statewide earlier this year, instead settling for a last-minute compromise that Democrats say is unconstitutional because of how it was passed. 

The ongoing special session was originally called to redraw Georgia’s political maps – although those redistricting plans were abandoned – and to address a looming deadline for the state to stop using ballot QR codes to count votes. Gov. Brian Kemp later opened the door for lawmakers to tee up local property tax referendums.  House Majority Chuck Efstration and other House Republicans criticized Democrats for voting against local property tax measures Saturday. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder

Dozens of referendums are in the works for communities all across the state, from Fannin County in north Georgia to Lowndes County in south Georgia. 

“We missed an opportunity to help our neighbors today,” said Rep. Gerald Greene, a Cuthbert Republican who had sponsored several tax referendums for south Georgia communities. 

Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, but since the measures involve homestead exemptions, they need two-thirds support to pass. That means Democratic votes are needed in both chambers. 

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“Today what we witnessed once again was Republicans cosplaying a care for affordability in this state,” said Rep. Tanya Miller, an Atlanta Democrat who chairs the minority caucus and is the party’s nominee for attorney general. 

“What they are trying to do is a bait and switch. What they propose today was nothing more than a tax increase on the people who are already hit the hardest,” she said, referring to the sales tax. 

Republicans criticized Democrats for denying communities a chance to decide for themselves whether to lean more on sales tax revenue to offset property taxes on homeowners. 

“This bill is very simple. It’s giving voters the chance to vote to lower their property taxes. Give voters that chance to do that,” said Rep. Scott Hilton, a Peachtree Corners Republican. 

“I believe the minority party deep down knows this would overwhelmingly pass if put on the ballot, but voters are being denied that chance right now, denied the chance to have a more affordable life, to be able to afford their home, to stay in their homes,” he added. 

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House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat, said GOP leaders are manufacturing a crisis by pursuing the tax measures during the special session instead of waiting until lawmakers return for their regular session in January.  

She framed the proposed local tax referendums as a GOP ploy to turn out conservative voters in November. 

“There is no reason for us to rush through this,” Hugley said. “The other thing is that you’re asking people to raise a sales tax on themselves so that homeowners can get a relief. You’re picking winners and losers, and that’s not what we should be doing here.”

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

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Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.





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