For a few brief and tumultuous weeks in 1946 and 1947, Georgia was the center of a unique political situation that had the nation captivated. Governor-elect Eugene Talmadge passed away before taking office, leading to a chaotic situation that included ballot manipulation, political dynasties, fistfights, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism. The Fulton County review panel appointed by the State Board of Elections consists of Stephen Day, a Democrat on the Gwinnett County election board; Ricky Kittle, a Republican on the Catoosa County election board; and Ryan Germany, general counsel in the office of the Secretary of State. The Fulton County Board of Elections and Registration is responsible for making improvements to the electoral process in the county, which is home to approximately 11% of Georgia's electorate.
The review panel is made up of one Democrat and one Republican. Fulton County Democrats have expressed their disapproval of the performance review, claiming it is a partisan tactic to reduce the political power of Atlanta and its diverse population. The high concentration of black voters in the Atlanta metropolitan area makes winning votes in Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties even more important for gubernatorial candidates. This has been highlighted by President Trump's attempts to overturn his electoral defeat in Georgia, which led Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to open an investigation into whether Trump and others illegally meddled in the state elections. The report from the State Board of Elections states that Fulton County has “a long and well-documented history of problems related to the administration of elections”. This has been further highlighted by President Trump's attempts to overturn his electoral defeat in Georgia. The review panel was created to address these issues and make improvements to the electoral process in Fulton County.
The panel will be looking at ways to increase voter turnout, reduce wait times at polling places, and ensure that all votes are counted accurately. They will also be examining any potential issues with voter registration or absentee ballots. The review panel's findings will be presented to the State Board of Elections for consideration. It is hoped that their recommendations will help improve the electoral process in Fulton County and ensure that all citizens have their voices heard.
