ATLANTA, Georgia – In this contentious climate anticipating the 2020 election results and the senatorial election runoff, Governor Brian Kemp has avoided definitive statements on the election integrity in his state.
Kemp’s remarks concerning the election circumvented the muddier issues: scrutiny over the state’s use of Dominion Voting Systems, and the validity of the absentee ballots cast in this election.
Kemp has come out on few occasions to address issues with the integrity of the recount and the runoff election.
The last official press release from Kemp came last Friday. In it, the governor issued a joint statement with Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and House Speaker David Ralston (R-GA-Dawson County) to thank Attorney General Chris Carr for condemning temporary voters.
Prior to that, Kemp issued one other official statement on the integrity of the election. The governor was joined in his statement by Ralston.
Kemp’s Twitter account received slightly more activity. The last tweet from the governor applauded the decision for the hand recount audit after reports emerged that 2,600 ballots were discovered, uncounted, in Floyd County.
Otherwise, Kemp has kept the majority of his statements on endorsing both incumbent Republican Senators for the January 5th runoff election: Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
In contrast, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has been vocal about the recount, election integrity, and validity of the absentee ballots cast.
Raffensperger defended against criticisms that procedures for processing absentee ballots were faulty – he claimed that the system was improved. However, legislators including Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA-08) have questioned the system due to issues with lack of ID requirements and the massive influx of absentee ballot votes cast flooding poll workers.
Raffensperger also stated that President Trump only had himself to blame for not securing more votes.
Throughout the recount, Georgia legislators petitioned Kemp to call a special legislative session. However, Kemp has yet to change his previous decision to not do so.
On Thursday, Georgia’s hand recount of votes appeared to affirm Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s lead. Kemp is expected to certify the votes on Friday, per Georgia law.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Brian Kemp” by Brian Kemp.
