Georgia Election Board Director Bypasses Chair to Demand Federal Ban on Voting Machines

Key points

• Mills sent letters to federal agencies on September 30 without board approval, demanding a ban on current voting equipment and a six-month transition deadline.
• The letters include allegations that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger misled the public and withheld records, claims not present in the board’s prior resolution.
• A Princeton researcher demonstrated that AI could identify 98.9% of in-person voters in Georgia using public records and ballot data, highlighting a critical privacy flaw.
• Board members Fervier and Grubbs accused Mills of exceeding his authority, while the secretary of state’s office dismissed the move as chaotic and unnecessary.
• Federal agencies acknowledged the letters but declined to commit to specific actions, noting ongoing scrutiny of Georgia’s election records.

Background

This dispute follows a 2025 hiring of Mills, who has clashed with Chair Fervier over operational authority. The board previously rejected immediate software updates due to pre-election risks. The current crisis is compounded by a 2020-era QR-code tabulation system that critics argue lacks direct voter verification, despite audits confirming accuracy. Federal investigations into Fulton County’s 2020 records and voter roll data remain active.

How outlets are covering it

Votebeat and Georgia Public Broadcasting emphasize the procedural breach, noting Mills acted without board consent. The Guardian focuses on the technical privacy risk, citing a Princeton study that exposed ballot secrecy flaws. Democracy Docket highlights the partisan nature of the request, linking it to broader attacks on nonpartisan voter roll programs like ERIC. While all sources agree on the timing and content of the letters, they differ on the primary driver: Votebeat frames it as an internal power struggle, while Democracy Docket frames it as a political attack on election integrity.

Why it matters

The incident threatens the stability of the 2026 midterms in a pivotal state. Demanding a federal ban on certified machines weeks before voting could disrupt operations and undermine public confidence. The privacy flaw exposes voters to potential intimidation, while the lack of board consensus signals deep dysfunction in Georgia’s election administration. Federal inaction or intervention could set a precedent for federal control over state election infrastructure.

What to watch

The Department of Justice and Homeland Security have not committed to acting on the letters. Early voting begins October 13. The board may revisit the ballot shuffling proposal or software update, though experts warn of risks. Fervier and Grubbs may pursue formal inquiries into Mills’ authority, potentially leading to a vote on his removal.