Nov. 4 (UPI) — Georgia’s Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ballot extension in the swing state Monday, ruling that 3,000 absentee ballots — which were sent out late in Cobb County — will only be counted if they are received by Election Day.
Monday’s ruling reversed a lower judge’s decision that originally gave voters an extension to Nov. 8, the same deadline for overseas ballots, after Cobb County elections officials missed the ballot mailing deadline.
Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration Chairwoman Tori Silas blamed faulty equipment and a late surge in absentee ballot requests for the delay.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a lawsuit Friday to extend the deadline to Nov. 8.
On Monday, the higher court ordered the Cobb County Board of Elections to count only those votes received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
The court also ordered elections officials to notify affected voters of the change and to “keep separate” any absentee ballots received after Election Day, but before Nov. 8, “in a secure, safe and sealed container separate from other voted ballots.”