BREAKING: Tulsi Gabbard Lands in the Trump Administration
Here's What Happened in the Oval Office Meeting Between Trump and Biden
Trump Drops a Bombshell With Attorney General Pick
Trump's Magnificent Beginning
Gun Rights Groups in Maine Tired of Waiting for Rights
Lyft's Rules Put Drivers in Danger
Thanks to Tim Walz, Kamala Lost This Key State
CNN's Van Jones Explodes Over Trump’s Defense Secretary Pick
Iran Postpones Third Attack on Israel in Hopes of Deal With Trump
Another Liberal Mayor Wants to Meet With Trump
These Out-of-Touch Celebs Flee X After Trump's 'DOGE' Announcement
Mikes Johnson Wins the Approval of Trump, GOP Ahead of House Speaker Vote
That NYT Interview Pelosi Gave Sure Was Wild
Melania Trump Sets the Record Straight About Not Meeting With Jill Biden
Trump Makes Rubio's Pick for Secretary of State Official
Tipsheet

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Certifies the Election Results But There's a Catch

Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) late Friday evening certified the state's presidential election results following a hand recount, where former Vice President Joe Biden came out ahead by roughly 12,000 votes. During the recount, President Donald Trump picked up an additional 888 votes. Kemp did, however, call for another hand recount, citing major errors in Floyd, Douglas and Walton Counties, CBS News reported.

Advertisement

Kemp's concern wasn't the legitimacy of the hand count, but rather the process that took place. Specifically, he cited thousands of uncounted ballots being found in various counties while the hand recount was taking place.

The governor, who previously served as secretary of state, said the signatures on absentee ballots weren't looked at or scrutinized. It's why he's called on Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to conduct a "sample audit of signatures on absentee ballot envelopes and compare those to the signatures on applications and on file that the secretary of state's office."

The problem with an audit, election officials said, is that it's impossible to compare ballots to envelopes since the envelope is opened and separated from the ballot. This is done to keep the voter's pick secretive.

Although Kemp has come under fire from the Trump campaign not to certify the election, the governor stated he had a legal obligation to do so.

"He's a fighter," the governor said of President Trump. "But at the end of the day, I’ve got to follow the laws of the constitution of this state and that’s exactly what I’m doing."

The Georgia State Constitution requires the governor to certify the election results Raffensperger provided on Thursday, Kemp explained to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The one good thing that comes from certifying the results, Kemp said, is that the Trump campaign has the ability to challenge the results in court.

Advertisement

"I would just say I'm formalizing the certification," he said. "Now that Secretary Raffensperger certified, it triggers the ability of the Trump campaign to ask for the recount. If something were to happen, I’m still part of that process. So my take on all this is: I’m following the law and the rules."

According to Kemp, the Trump campaign can ask for another state-funded recount since the results are within a half-point of one another. They will have until Tuesday to make the ask.

The one thing Kemp and Raffensperger said they hope comes out of this: state reforms that require an ID for mail-in ballots.

"I'd be open to working with both bodies in the House and Senate, and the lieutenant governor and the speaker, as well on that," Kemp said. "Georgians deserve a process where the integrity of the vote is not a question – and certainly it is on a lot of people's minds. That’s part of the issue of what’s going on right now."

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement