Following a signature match audit for absentee ballots in Cobb County, Georgia will conduct a statewide audit. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced the decision on Monday.
According to the secretary of state’s office, the audit will review “specific allegations” relating to inadequate signature matching on absentee ballot applications ahead of June’s primary elections. That audit will compare a sample of absentee ballot envelopes to signatures on file.
However, during a press conference, Raffensperger asserted that the audit was called not because of reported incidents indicating improper signature matching, but in order to assuage the widespread lack of confidence in the integrity of the general election results.
“Now that the signature matching has been attacked again and again with no evidence, I feel we need to take steps to restore confidence in our elections,” stated Raffensperger.
Raffensperger has stated previously that the signature matching processes conducted in Georgia during the primaries and general election were stronger than ever before. During an interview nearly a month ago, Raffensperger told a reporter that nothing went wrong with their signature matching.
Additionally, Raffensperger has posted in defense of their state’s signature matching.
“My team secured and strengthened absentee ballots for the first time since 2005,” Raffensperger wrote. “[L]et’s address this disinformation about signature match. We strengthened signature match. We helped train election officials on GBI signature match – which is confirmed twice before a ballot is cast.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp tweeted after the secretary of state’s office made the announcement, commending Raffensperger for his decision.
“After calling for a signature audit repeatedly since the November 3rd election, I am glad Secretary Raffensperger has finally taken this necessary step to begin restoring confidence in Georgia’s election process. #gapol[.]”
After calling for a signature audit repeatedly since the November 3rd election, I am glad Secretary Raffensperger has finally taken this necessary step to begin restoring confidence in Georgia's election process. #gapol https://t.co/5817TOAiMs
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) December 15, 2020
Cobb County’s audit is expected to be completed within two weeks. The secretary of state’s office didn’t establish when the statewide audit would take place.
Monday also marked the day that the Electoral College cast their votes for the presidency. The votes indicated that Democratic candidate Joe Biden is the President-elect.
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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].
Background Photo “Georgia Capitol” by DXR. CC BY-SA 4.0.
