A Georgia judge just gave conservatives the green light to audit some troubling election discrepancies which are still bothering election officials, in what was one of the most hotly contested battleground states last November. It won’t affect the outcomes any but could lead to better election integrity in the future.

Henry County audit approved

In a ruling on Friday, Henry County Superior Court Judge Brian Amero “unsealed roughly 145,000 absentee ballots” from the November election in Georgia for independent accounting of the votes. Sure, Republicans can examine them all they want, he wrote, as long as the ballots stay with “Fulton County election officials throughout the audit.”

It’s only academic at this point because the results of the election, and the special Senate run-offs, are carved in stone. The “results of the review cannot impact the outcome of the November election.”

The Plaintiffs were okay with the terms set down by the Judge because it’s urgent that the review audit happens “after controversial behavior by Fulton County election officials.” Nine parties including Fulton county resident Garland Favorito, a self styled “election watchdog” took the matter to court.

This is only one of the more than 30 suits filed in the State of Georgia in the wake of both the presidential election and the January runoff for U.S. Senate. A few of them are still proceeding through the process.

Former Senator Kelly Loeffler was one of those impacted by the outcome of the special Senate runoff. She lost. Whether that loss was fair and square remains to be seen.

In any case, she now runs the voter registration group Greater Georgia Action. She’s thrilled by the judges ruling allowing the audit to occur. She issued a statement praising the decision.

All about voter confidence

Loeffler is convinced that faith in election integrity is at an all time low and that’s not a good thing because it’s so terribly important. “Voter confidence in our election system is the bedrock of our republic,” she notes.

“Unfortunately, inconsistencies in Fulton County’s November 2020 absentee ballots cast serious doubt on voters’ faith in our elections.” The audit will go a long way toward restoring that faith.

One of the reasons the audit is so important is because an “independent investigation” already “characterized Fulton County’s absentee ballot handling as ‘generally bad management.’” She’s not the only one demanding answers.

“While there is a dire need to investigate a number of other well-documented issues, we must also inspect Fulton County’s absentee ballots to reassure Georgians that their voices are heard and their votes are counted.”

The whole “integrity of future elections” is at stake and Loeffler considers that “critical.”

That’s why Judge Amero’s decision to allow the audit to move forward “is a helpful step in restoring transparency, accountability, and voter confidence.” She looks forward to “the findings and their role in promoting transparency and rebuilding faith in our elections.”