Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger says the state will begin to audit election results today. It will be the first time this has ever happened in the state.
“With the margin being so close, it will require a full, by-hand recount in each county,” Raffensperger said during a news conference Wednesday morning. “This will help build confidence. It will be an audit, a recount, and a recanvas all at once. It will be a heavy lift but we will work with the counties to get this done in time for our state certification."
Several GOP groups and legal representatives have flocked to Georgia claiming fraud in the 2020 election. Even though there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by election officials, Republican U.S. Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue called on Georgia Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger to step down, saying he “did not deliver an honest or transparent election.”
Raffensperger fired back by saying that wouldn’t happen and questioned the motives of the two incumbent senators.
"I was disappointed. What I never like to see is our house divided. Because as Secretary of State my job is make sure we have honest and fair elections, but also as a Republican, as a conservative, I'd like to see our side win. But, then you have to win fair and honestly," said Raffensperger.
As of Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, President-Elect Joe Biden’s lead over President Donald Trump was a little more than 14,000 votes in Georgia. A race that hasn’t been called despite 99% of precincts reporting.
Raffensperger and the Georgia State Board of Elections say a full audit will be conducted, as required by Georgia law, and a recount is expected. The deadline for certification is November 20, 2020.