Peach Tree Times

Senators Brandon Beach, John Albers, and Matt Brass have expressed concerns over recent actions by the Fulton County Board of Elections. The board decided to open four election offices for absentee ballot collection without notifying the Secretary of State’s office. This decision has prompted questions about transparency and the chain of custody for ballots.

Senator Brandon Beach stated, “After 19 days of early voting, the Fulton County Board of Elections, without the knowledge of the Secretary of State’s office, violated the spirit of free and fair elections and the will of the General Assembly by opening four government buildings in order to receive absentee ballots.” He emphasized that these actions threaten election transparency and erode public trust.

Senator John Albers also voiced his concerns, noting that these decisions were made without approval from key authorities. “I am deeply concerned by the recent decisions made by unelected and interim Fulton elections workers. These actions were taken without the approval of the Fulton Elections Board, Fulton County Commissioners or the Secretary of State,” he said. Albers mentioned misrepresentations by an interim Elections Director and highlighted ongoing monitoring efforts with legal counsel involvement.

Senator Matt Brass added that state laws are designed to ensure transparency at all stages of elections. “Transparency on the front end of the election process is how to prevent confusion on the back end. Our state laws are designed to do just that and must be followed; Fulton County is no exception,” he remarked.

The senators continue to advocate for adherence to established electoral procedures to maintain public confidence in election outcomes.