‘Time for the state to take over’: Georgia Republicans seize on vote-reporting delay in push to control Fulton County elections

Georgia Republicans baselessly claimed Tuesday that a delay in Fulton County’s primary election reporting was evidence of fraud — and sought to use the episode to advance their push to have the state take over election operations in the Democratic stronghold.

In reality, Fulton County delayed its reporting after police shut down a polling station at Ison Park Elementary School in the city of Sandy Springs, while they investigated a suspicious person in the area.

The Sandy Springs Police Department said it launched the probe after receiving reports of possible gunshots following an altercation between a man in military-style gear and another person.

Despite the investigation and polling site closure, state and national Republicans claimed that the county’s delay in election reporting was evidence of voting fraud. Their claims echoed President Donald Trump’s repeated unfounded allegations that fraud in Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold in Georgia, led to his loss in the 2020 election.

They also used the delay to attack Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who has been a pariah in the GOP since his refusal to “find” enough votes to overturn Trump’s loss in the state in 2020. Raffensperger was also a candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, but came in third behind two election deniers, who advanced to a runoff.

“Fulton County is at it AGAIN! Nearly 10PM and ZERO percent reporting. What the hell is Brad Raffensperger doing?” Rep. Clay Fuller (R-Ga.) said in a social media post. “Time for the state to take over this clown show and end the madness once and for all.”

“We must NOT allow another rigged vote in Georgia!” Fuller, who won the Republican nomination for U.S. House in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District Tuesday, added. Previously, he won a special election in April to take over the congressional seat formerly held by Marjorie Taylor Greene.

At no point did Fuller tell his followers that the delay was because of a police investigation.

Since the 2020 election, Georgia Republicans have repeatedly called on the state’s Trump-aligned State Election Board (SEB) to take control of Fulton County’s elections. 

In 2021, the GOP-controlled Georgia legislature passed legislation empowering the SEB to take over underperforming county election boards. But, so far, it has declined to use those powers against Fulton County.

Georgia Senator Greg Dolezal, who advanced to a runoff for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, also alleged the delay was evidence of fraud without mentioning the investigation. 

“It’s time for Georgia’s Election Commission to takeover the process,” Dolezal said in a social media post. “We will not have another 2020 this November!”

The police department later said it took a suspect into custody after an extensive search with help from the FBI.

A photo of the suspect obtained by 11Alive showed a man dressed in green fatigues, equipped with a military helmet, mask, a tactical vest, and knee pads.

Because of the lockdown at the elementary school, Fulton County sought and received a court order extending voting hours at two precincts in Fulton County “to ensure that all voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots,” the county said. 

Other Republicans, including Raffensperger, instead praised Fulton County’s efforts. 

“As Secretary of State, it is my duty to make sure all 159 counties have what they need to ensure the tabulation process goes smoothly once the polls close,” Raffensperger said in a social media post. 

“Thank you to Fulton County and all the county election officials for your work making our elections the best in the nation,” he added.