Georgia Votes: Judge Strikes Down Controversial Election Rules

In Georgia, a judge has struck down some new election rules passed by Donald Trump allies. These rules were seen as controversial because they might have caused issues in the critical swing state. One rule wanted county election officials to check election results before certifying them. Another rule allowed them to look at election documents before declaring winners. The judge said these rules were illegal and against the constitution. Georgia is important for both parties because it has 16 electoral votes. In 2020, Joe Biden won the state by a narrow margin of over 10,000 votes. Early voting started in Georgia on Tuesday with high turnout. Three GOP members of the Georgia State Election Board were praised by Trump at a rally. He said they were doing a great job fighting for transparency. After these rules passed, Democrats and others worried that they could delay or change election results. The judge said these rules added extra steps and let officials consider unauthorized materials. He also said that county officials might have too much power to reject election outcomes. An election advocacy group called Eternal Vigilance Action brought the case to the judge. One rule that was invalidated required poll workers to hand-count ballots, which the judge said wasn't supported by Georgia law. This story is still developing, and more details are expected.