Georgia
Georgia Supreme Court halts Cobb County extension of absentee ballot deadline
ATLANTA – The Georgia Supreme Court has stayed the current deadline to accept absentee ballots, following delays attributed to an equipment failure and a surge in last-minute applications.
The Republican National Committee and the Georgia Republican Party filed a lawsuit seeking to reverse that decision through the state’s highest court. While the court has not ruled directly on whether the ballots would be accepted, it did say any late ballot cannot be counted and must be set aside until a further ruling.
“All justices agreed with the order except Chief Justice Boggs and Justices Ellington and Colvin, who dissented, while Presiding Justice Peterson was disqualified from the case,” the ruling read.
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“The Cobb County Board of Elections is aware of and will comply with the Georgia Supreme Court’s order granting a stay,” said Board of Elections and Registration Chairwoman Tori Silas. “However, because the order only addressed to the motion for a stay, we will anticipate the Supreme Court’s final ruling to see whether it ultimately allow these voters additional time to return their ballots or whether we must only count those received by the close of polls on Tuesday.”
The Cobb County Elections Department announced that approximately 3,200 absentee ballot applications were processed late due to a spike in requests before last Friday’s deadline and technical problems. The department sends these ballots via next-day mail or delivery, including prepaid express return envelopes.
Cobb County Superior Court Senior Judge Robert Flournoy approved an order on Thursday, supported by four members of the Board of Elections and Registration and proposed by attorneys representing three voters affected by the issue.
Under Judge Flournoy’s order, absentee ballots mailed after Oct. 30 will be counted if they are received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, and postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. The ruling is intended to protect the voting rights of those impacted by the delays.
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that any ballot received by 7 p.m. on Election Day can be counted, but any ballots received after the deadline through 5 p.m. on Nov. 8, must be kept separately and securely, but not destroyed, until further notice from the court. Those late ballots would not immediately be counted.
The Supreme Court’s order also directs affected voters to be informed of the deadline for returning their absentee ballots through email, text messages, and a public announcement on the Cobb County Board of Elections’ website. This order applies only to the specific group of “Affected Voters” identified in a trial court order from Nov. 1 and does not affect voters covered by federal laws for uniformed and overseas voters.
Cobb County election officials say voters who requested an absentee ballot but are concerned it will not arrive on time can still vote in person at their assigned precinct on Tuesday. To find their precinct, voters can visit the state’s My Voter Page.
Georgia
Top Dawgs in the NFL (Week 9)
Top Dawgs in the NFL (Week 9)
Continuing a series that debuted last season, UGASports highlights the top NFL performances by former Georgia players for the week entering the Monday night game. With our most outstanding performer for the week—or the Top Dawg—revealed towards the end, we spotlight the top NFL performances by Bulldogs for October 31 through November 3 and preview those participating in tonight’s Monday night game.
Ladd McConkey
A week after a 100-yard receiving performance, McConkey continued his sensational rookie campaign in the Los Angeles Chargers’ 27-10 win yesterday over the Cleveland Browns. Starting at wide receiver and seeing 48 of 57 offensive snaps, he totaled a team-high five receptions for 64 yards with a long of 20. Through eight games this season, McConkey leads the 5-3 Chargers with 35 catches for 440 yards and four touchdowns.
Travon Walker
Although resulting in a 28-23 loss on the road at Philadelphia, Jacksonville’s Walker had one of the top single-game defensive performances in the last few weeks by a former Georgia player. The third-year defensive end totaled seven tackles (six solo), including two for loss, and returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown to pull the Jaguars to within a touchdown late in the third quarter. Breaking multiple tackles on his way to the end zone, Walker’s fumble return was a thing of beauty and was his first touchdown since he played at Upson-Lee High School.
Nakobe Dean
With Jacksonville trailing Philadelphia, 28-23, with 1:37 remaining, Dean went up high and made a tremendous, game-sealing interception of the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence. For Dean, it was the first interception of his NFL career—and his first pick since the one he returned for a 50-yard touchdown against Florida three years before in Jacksonville. Although he totaled only two tackles against the Jaguars (Dean entered averaging more than eight tackles per game), he defended on a game-high two opposing passes, including the game-clinching pick. Also for the Eagles, defensive tackle Jalen Carter totaled four tackles, defensive tackle Jordan Davis made two tackles, linebacker Nolan Smith had one stop, and cornerback Kelee Ringo had a tackle and fumble recovery on special teams.
The TOP DAWG: Matthew Stafford
A week after having his highest-rated passing game in nearly two years, Stafford earned the Top Dawg recognition for his performance yesterday in the Los Angeles Rams’ 26-20 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks. The 16-year veteran completed 25 of 44 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Stafford’s second touchdown pass was a 39-yard dime dropped to Demarcus Robinson in overtime to win the game. It marked the former Georgia quarterback’s 46th career game-winning drive in the NFL, ranking sixth all-time in league history.
For some notable group efforts, linebacker Quay Walker had a game-high 12 tackles in Green Bay’s 24-14 loss to Detroit. Also contributing to the Packers defense was safety Javon Bullard (four tackles), cornerback Eric Stokes (three tackles), and tackle Devonte Wyatt (two tackles).
Although resulting in a 41-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a trio of former Georgia players stood out for the Las Vegas Raiders. Tight end Brock Bowers continued his historic rookie season with five receptions, including a 22-yard touchdown for the second score of his pro career. Also, running back Zamir White rushed for a touchdown for the game’s first score, and 12-year defensive tackle John Jenkins registered a half-sack.
Kicking off at 8:15 pm ET, the lone Monday night game tonight pits the 4-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the 7-0 Kansas City Chiefs, where the home team is a 9-point favorite. The Bucs have one former Georgia player on their active roster: rookie Tykee Smith, a No. 2 safety. The Chiefs feature two: Malik Herring, a No. 2 defensive end, and Mecole Hardman, a No. 2 wide receiver (also first-team kickoff return and second-team punt return).
Georgia
Trump campaign files lawsuit challenging ‘illegal’ early ballot collection in Georgia
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – New lawsuits have been filed by the Trump campaign challenging Georgia’s election.
The 21-page lawsuit filed in Savannah argues county offices in the state were “illegally” open over the weekend.
The federal and state lawsuits are the latest move from Republicans contesting Georgia’s election procedures.
“The Republican national committee and team Trump, we filed ligation,” said Trump Campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt addressed the filings at an event in Atlanta Saturday.
“We learned that in four counties including Fulton County Democrat election officials were – one trying to process ballots after the deadline last night and two – trying to open additional drop boxes that were not predetermined prior,” she said.
The Republican National Committee filed a similar lawsuit in Fulton County, where it was struck down by a judge. The judge said absentee ballots can be collected until polls close on election day.
Georgia judge rejects GOP lawsuit trying to block counties from accepting hand-returned mail ballots
County offices across the state were open Saturday and Sunday. However, the court restricted the option for drop boxes.
Gabriel Sterling, Chief Operating Officer for the Georgia Secretary of State, responded claims on Twitter saying, “To be clear, no election laws were broken in Georgia today. The law clearly states that govt buildings can be used to receive absentee ballots. A judge said so this morning. Monitors, observers, & SOS investigators were all in Fulton locations. 104 ballots dropped off there.”
The Trump campaign says they continue to fight the re-opening of the centers at federal and state level.
“We want everyone in Georgia to remain diligent,” said Leavitt.
The Sectary of State’s Office is expected to address the pending lawsuits at a press conference set for Monday morning.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
Georgia
Donald Trump’s, Kamala Harris’ easiest paths to victory run through Georgia
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have spent a lot of time in Georgia as their historic 2024 presidential campaigns come to an end.
And there’s a reason: both candidates’ respective easiest paths to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue run through the Peach State.
From Gray Media’s Washington bureau:
Harris’ easiest path
Exactly 270 through the Rust Belt (Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin). If Harris holds “the blue wall” – and avoids any surprises elsewhere – she’ll have the 270 electoral votes she needs. These states traditionally support Democrats, but all went for Trump in 2016. The “blue dot” of Omaha is also needed here.
Trump’s easiest path
Exactly 270 with Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. To pull this off, Trump would need to do well in the suburbs and improve on his 2020 performance.
Another Trump path
Through the Sun Belt with one Rust Belt state Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin (or Michigan or Pennsylvania). Trump has led in polling in Georgia and Arizona. If he can also pick up Nevada and North Carolina, he would only need any one of the coveted Rust Belt states.
Another Harris path
Through the Sun Belt Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina. A less-likely scenario based on polling, but Harris could win the presidency by only winning the Sun Belt, or with a combination of various Sun Belt and Rust Belt states.
269-269: An Electoral College tie
The most likely way this could happen is if Harris holds the “blue wall” trio of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, but loses Nebraska’s Omaha-based district. Trump would need North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada … and that Omaha district to tie.
Another way a tie could happen is if Trump wins all the Rust Belt states (Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin) and also wins Nevada.
What happens in a tie?
Trump would likely win According to the U.S. Constitution, the new House of Representatives choses the president and the new Senate choses the vice president. House members vote by state delegation, and based on current polling, Republicans are likely to hold a majority of state delegations after the election. For vice president, each senator gets an individual vote.
Atlanta News First and Atlanta News First+ provide you with the latest news, headlines and insights as Georgia continues its role at the forefront of the nation’s political scene. Download our Atlanta News First app for the latest political news and information.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
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