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groundloop

(11,520 posts)
Fri Dec 4, 2020, 06:53 PM Dec 2020

Pro-Trump election lawsuit may 'significantly hinder' preparations for Georgia Senate runoffs, state

Source: ABC News

Election officials in Georgia say a federal judge's recent order to preserve voting machines at the request of attorney Sidney Powell, an ally of President Donald Trump, has the potential to "significantly hinder" their preparations for rapidly-approaching runoff elections that will determine control of the Senate.

Powell is the lead lawyer on a number of federal lawsuits arguing that President Trump's election loss should be reversed -- alleging a widespread conspiracy that includes a false claim that voting machines were rigged to flip votes from Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.

Last week, Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., a Bush appointee, blocked the state from "altering, destroying, or erasing" any software or data on the voting machines that were used to tabulate presidential votes in three Georgia counties. The temporary hold is in place until the court can hear arguments on Powell's demand to inspect the machines.

State election officials submitted a new filing Thursday asking the judge to modify or dissolve the order so they can start preparing the machines for the highly-anticipated Senate runoff elections that are just a month away.



Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pro-trump-election-lawsuit-significantly-hinder-preparations-georgia/story?id=74542114&cid=clicksource_4380645_4_three_posts_card_hed



If election officials are unable to start prepping voting machine Cobb and Gwinnett County voters (by coincidence both are blue counties) will likely be subject to extremely long lines.

It's obvious this is just another GOPer ploy to rat-fuck Democratic voters in Georgia.
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Mike 03

(16,616 posts)
1. Dammit, now we're seeing the real-world consequences of this madness.
Fri Dec 4, 2020, 06:56 PM
Dec 2020

Prior to this, it didn't seem to have actual effects on this senate runoff, but now it's staring to become a problem.

underpants

(182,848 posts)
2. So 3rd layer chess here - Powell gets canned to continue not officially as part of the campaign
Fri Dec 4, 2020, 06:57 PM
Dec 2020

and jam up the whole prep for the runoff.

Eh. They don’t seem that smart. I think they get them a highly motivated IT contractor fromsay Michigan they can get the machines ready in time for January 5th.

Princess Turandot

(4,787 posts)
5. UPDATE: This one took a detour, which isn't referenced in the OP..
Fri Dec 4, 2020, 08:44 PM
Dec 2020

Rather than wait for a short-scheduled hearing with the District Court, Sidney and The Kracken appealed to the 11th Circuit for the TRO (I think) that the lower court refused to give them. The 3 judge panel just dismissed the case for a lack of jurisdiction.

I don't know if that gives them the ability to go back to the court below for the hearing originally offered.



Also, the Trump Campaign filed a lawsuit in Georgia state court just this afternoon. This is now just about squeezing every benjamin he can get from his true believers.

LisaL

(44,974 posts)
7. It's mentioned in the OP article.
Fri Dec 4, 2020, 08:46 PM
Dec 2020

As far as I can tell, her appeal doesn't affect the original judge's order of freezing the machines. Machines are still frozen, unless judge orders to "unfreeze" them.

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)
8. Judge Batten Doesn't Look To Be Very Computer Literate
Fri Dec 4, 2020, 11:12 PM
Dec 2020

The Election office would have a copy of the software that was loaded onto the computers in question and they should be able to create a backup file from the software running on the computers. A simple file compare would reveal any difference in the code whatsoever. It doesn't matter whether it is readable source code or unreadable object code. Ordering that done would make way for the hardware to be prepared for the upcoming Senate runoff elections.

IsItJustMe

(7,012 posts)
9. A smart person would simply order more voting machines to replace the frozen ones.
Sat Dec 5, 2020, 02:13 PM
Dec 2020

Seems reasonable. Not sure what would be involved, but I am sure the company that provides these machines must have backups or can make them in time.

LisaL

(44,974 posts)
11. And I guess this smart person would print more money?
Sat Dec 5, 2020, 06:57 PM
Dec 2020

Machines aren't free. Never mind there is not enough time to make new ones. Early voting starts December 14.

IsItJustMe

(7,012 posts)
14. That is nine days from now. Someone needs to get on it, like yesterday!!!
Sat Dec 5, 2020, 08:59 PM
Dec 2020

The alternate, stand in hour long lines during a pandemic. Instead of having the sky is falling attitude the Dems in Georgia need a CAN DO ATTITITUDE. There is no other solution, other than this judge changing his mind (I would not hold my breath) or heavy use of mail in ballots (absentee ballots).

I am just trying to figure out what can be done.

LisaL

(44,974 posts)
15. Yes, it obviously needs to be fixed.
Sat Dec 5, 2020, 11:26 PM
Dec 2020

I am not even sure that residents of these counties are aware of what is going on.
The best thing to do right now is for them to request absentee ballots, as far as I am concerned.

LisaL

(44,974 posts)
12. I hope people in those counties ask for absentee ballots ASAP.
Sat Dec 5, 2020, 06:59 PM
Dec 2020

Because they might not be able to vote on the "frozen" machines.

DeminPennswoods

(15,289 posts)
13. Start printing paper ballots
Sat Dec 5, 2020, 08:58 PM
Dec 2020

There are only 4 candidates, 1D, 1R for each senate election. It won't even be that hard to hand-count if needed.

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