Secretary Raffensperger Announces the “Georgia Plan” for Federal Election Reform

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is calling on Congressional leaders to prioritize national election reform in the upcoming Republican trifecta. Secretary Raffensperger previously urged then-Speaker McCarthy and key Committee chairs on reform proposals, outlining a series of measures designed to ensure election integrity, enhance public confidence, and balance voter access with security.

Secretary Raffensperger praised election administrators across the state for seamless administration and putting the voters first, highlighting the state’s commitment to transparency and the robust election reforms enacted in 2019 and 2021 which led to record turnout in a Presidential cycle.

“Georgians had more days and more ways to vote than ever before,” Raffensperger noted. “These efforts paid off, resulting in a record turnout election that was safe, secure, and accurate.”

As Congress prepares for Republican control of the House and Senate, Raffensperger urges lawmakers to adopt a federal framework that upholds the standards of transparency, security, and integrity demonstrated in Georgia.

“Voters nationwide deserve to participate in elections that have both security and integrity, along with easy access for eligible voters and quick and accurate reporting of results,” he said.

Key Proposals for Election Reform:

1. Citizenship Verification: Georgia has developed a seamless way to verify citizenship by working closely with the Department of Driver Services. Federal legislation should expand the tools available to states to verify U.S. citizenship of all voters and require this to be done for voters in federal elections. While federal law mandates U.S. citizenship for federal elections, some municipalities have allowed non-citizens to vote in local elections. Raffensperger proposed a constitutional amendment to prohibit non-citizen voting in all federal elections, reinforcing the principle that American elections are decided by American citizens.

2. Photo ID: Citing Georgia’s success with photo ID requirements for all forms of voting, Raffensperger called for a similar standard in federal elections. He pointed to high voter turnout and widespread public support for such measures as evidence of their effectiveness.

3. Ban Ballot Harvesting Nationwide: To safeguard against vote buying and inducement, Raffensperger proposed a nationwide ban on ballot harvesting, reinforcing the direct relationship between voters and the ballot box.

4. Quick and Accurate Reporting of Results, Confirmed by Audits: All ballots should have to arrive by Election Day except for military and overseas voters, and results should be tabulated and reported quickly and accurately. Those results should then be audited to bolster confidence in election outcomes. Raffensperger calls for uniform, nationwide post-election audits. Such audits would establish minimum standards across states, ensuring consistency and public trust.

5. Clean Voter Lists: Modernize the National Voter Registration Act to allow states to clean lists closer to elections as long as high-quality, accurate data is used.

“These common-sense measures have helped make Georgia a model of election integrity and accessibility for the nation,” said Raffensperger. “Implementing similar reforms at the federal level would strengthen public trust and reaffirm our nation’s commitment to free and fair elections.”

Raffensperger’s appeal to Congressional leaders underscores the importance of balancing security with accessibility in election administration. He urged lawmakers to take action now to ensure that states have the tools needed to maintain public confidence and safeguard the democratic process as the nation approaches the next election cycle.