Audit shows errors in Georgia primary came from hand-marked ballots, Raffensberger says

Every ballot error from the June 16 primary came from a hand-marked one, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Thursday.

The ballot image audit shows an accuracy rate of 99.93% for hand-marked ballots and 100% for machine-marked ballots.

"Human beings make human errors and the likelihood of a discrepancy between voter intent and what’s marked on a ballot is greatest when that ballot has been marked by hand," Raffensperger said in a statement.

Raffensperger's office has faced scrutiny since the 2020 election about the accuracy of the Dominion voting machines. Salleigh Grubbs, a member of the Georgia State Election Board, advocates for hand-marked ballots.

"Nothing can come between the voter and their pen and their piece of paper," Grubbs said, holding a pen during a video interview in April with The Center Square.

Grubbs has also questioned access to the State Operations Center at the secretary of state's office. She sponsored a rule passed by the election board on Wednesday that would grant board members access to the area she calls the "bunker."

Raffensperger's office has said that no vote counting occurs in the area. A May 12 letter from Attorney General Chris Carr said the board does not have the authority to pass the rule, Board Chairman John Fervier said.

"You know, as in many other rules we have passed where the Supreme Court ruled we don't have the authority to, I worry that passing this rule will lead us down the same path and to another lawsuit that we don't need," Fervier said.

Fervier was referring to four election board rules the Supreme Court of Georgia struck down in June 2025, saying the board exceeded its authority. The rules would have required hand counting of votes after the polls closed; allowed county election boards to conduct a "reasonable inquiry" before certifying elections; and permitted board members to examine all election documentation before certifying an election.

The last rule would have required caregivers of family members to provide a photo identification when dropping off absentee ballots for someone else.

Fervier and board member Sara Tindall Ghazal voted against the rule on Wednesday, but it was approved 3-1, with board members Janelle King and Carolyn Roddy joining Grubbs in voting yes.

"The courts have informed them multiple times that they cannot pass rules contrary to Georgia law. Apparently they have not learned their lesson," Robert Sinners, a spokesman from the secretary of state's office said in an email to The Center Square.

The election board also agreed to consider a rule that would guarantee ballot secrecy. Georgia law requires ballots to be cast in secret, but Grubbs said the electronic boards do not offer privacy.

"What I'm trying to do is protect Georgia voters and I'm trying to protect the integrity of the vote and I'm trying to comply with Georgia law," Grubbs said. "We are talking about equal protection under the law and we're talking about affording individuals the integrity to vote without someone knowing how they vote. All I'm saying is put it into rulemaking."

Fervier said the rule is not practical.

"We have an election less than four months away and throwing this kind of burden on the counties, with such short notice and having to deal with this absolute secrecy and all this other stuff, it's just not feasible," Fervier said.

Wednesday's vote opens the rule to public comment. The board will consider it when it meets on Aug. 19.