(The Center Square) — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger desires state lawmakers to extend the penalties for anyone who tampers or tries to tamper with balloting machines within the state.
According to Raffensperger’s place of business, anyone convicted of making an attempt to intervene with a balloting system — a legal in Georgia— faces between one and 10 years in jail and a most $10,000 penalty.
“Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and those who attempt to interfere with that fundamental right should be subject to higher penalties,” Raffensperger, a Republican, stated in a Monday remark. “A felony with a short sentence or small fine is not sufficient justice for those who attempt to interfere with our democracy.
“I imagine our apparatus is important infrastructure and will have to be handled that approach,” Raffensperger added. “It is time for the Legislature to replace the penalties to a $1 million fantastic and no less than 10 years in prison related to crimes in opposition to elections. Extremist teams that search to invalidate the protection of our elections will have to face severe felony penalties for their movements. Groups that try to acquire unlawful get right of entry to or give unlawful get right of entry to to balloting machines will have to be matter to top fines and minimal prison time.”
Raffensperger has drawn the ire of former President Donald Trump and some Republicans for his response to the 2020 election. Since the election, Raffensperger has sought to portray the state and its election approach as “a countrywide chief in elections.”
Last week, the State Election Board dismissed a lingering case from the 2020 election. In wrapping the long-running investigation into allegations against the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections, the board concluded that accusations against two election workers were unsubstantiated.
Additionally, the Georgia Republican Party has raised concerns about a 2021 report by Alex Halderman, a University of Michigan computer science and engineering professor. According to the state party, the report, filed as part of a federal lawsuit over the state’s voting system and recently unsealed, uncovered vulnerabilities.
“Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are rightly dismayed that no strive is being made to deal with the vulnerabilities known via the document prior to the 2024 Presidential Election,” Josh McKoon, the party’s chairman, said in a statement last week. “Given the breach of self assurance in fresh election cycles, plagued with irregularities, now greater than ever Georgians deserve to grasp their votes are safe.”
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