(Daily Signal)—An expert in election data asserts that almost 35,000 Georgia voters in 2020 cast ballots from the wrong jurisdictions, but Georgia’s top election official hasn’t responded to his request for an investigation.
Mark Davis, president of Georgia-based Data Productions Inc., has pushed for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office to investigate his data since May 2021. Davis says he inquired again earlier this month after finding evidence of the same problems in Georgia’s 2021 and 2022 elections.
“The same thing is going to happen again in 2024,” Davis, who earlier this year scored a legal victory over the Stacey Abrams-founded group Fair Fight Action– told The Daily Signal. “I first brought this up to the State Elections Board in 2002. You can’t fix a problem if you don’t admit you have a problem.”
“The secretary of state doesn’t want to address this because it happened on his watch,” he said of Raffensperger. “I don’t know why he’s being like that. It’s happened on everyone’s watch.”
Georgia is expected to be among the most closely contested states in the 2024 presidential election. In 2020, Joe Biden carried the state over Donald Trump by 11,000 votes.
Davis, who earlier this year scored a legal victory over the Stacey Abrams-founded group Fair Fight Action, analyzed voting records based on data from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office and the U.S. Postal Service. He had talked about the data in an affidavit used by the Trump campaign in disputing the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia.
Davis provided The Daily Signal with his updated numbers as of February. They show that out of the 34,869 voters who cast ballots in the wrong jurisdiction, 4,696 who voted at a previous address in 2020 now are confirmed to have registered at the new address or have driver’s license information reflecting a change of address form with the Postal Service.
In May 2021, Davis’ analysis of voting and postal records showed that a total of 10,018 Georgia voters cast ballots in 2020 using an old address but whose voter registration or driver’s license information now matches their new address. That means that now, 14,714 is the total confirmed number of voters whose registration or driver’s license information matches a change of address form, although they voted unlawfully at an old address, according to Davis’ analysis.
“As discussed Friday, attached is a file of 34,869 records I would like the Secretary of State’s Office to investigate for residency issues relating to the November general election,” Davis wrote in a May 10, 2021, email to Gabe Sterling, chief operating officer for Raffensperger’s office, months after the election outcome was settled. “Many of these voters may also have had the same residency issues when they cast votes in previous elections as well.”
Voting from the wrong address usually occurs when someone votes at a polling place assigned to a previous residence rather than a current address. Willfully providing false information on a voter certificate is a felony under Georgia law punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.
Georgia law states that someone may vote in his or her former jurisdiction only if the move occurred within 30 days of the election.
Voting rules posted on county governments’ websites say:
If you move outside the county in which you are registered to vote within 30 days of an election, you may vote in your old precinct for that election. If you move outside the county in which you are registered to vote in excess of 30 days prior to an election, you have lost your eligibility to vote in the county of your old residence. You must register to vote in your new county of residence. You will be assigned a new voting precinct and polling location. Remember, if you don’t register to vote by the deadline, you cannot vote in that particular election.
Putting aside statewide races, Davis stressed that voting in the wrong county means that some cast ballots for offices such as sheriff, district attorney, and state legislator that don’t represent them. These voters, he said, conceivably could vote in favor of county tax increases they won’t pay.
In what became an infamous phone call to Raffensperger and other Georgia officials on Jan. 2, 2021, in the remaining three weeks of his presidency, Trump and his campaign lawyers referenced the data from Davis’s affidavit in saying illegal votes were cast in the Nov. 3 election.
Trump’s phone call became part of the criminal indictment in Fulton County, Georgia, of the former president and over 15 associates for alleged conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
“To put this into context, these are 18 people being put on trial for conspiracy in Fulton County, in part because of that phone call,” Davis told The Daily Signal. “President Trump and his lawyers were not asking the Secretary of State’s Office to manufacture 11,779 votes. They were asking the Secretary of State’s Office to investigate unlawful votes we were already aware of.”
Davis, who has worked with voter data since 1986, said he has testified in five cases of disputed elections.
Raffensperger’s office confirmed it would investigate in 2021, but didn’t respond to his inquiry in 2022, Davis said. He said he contacted Raffensperger, a Republican, and other officials in his office Feb. 1 to ask whether an investigation had been opened—and if not, why not. Davis said he also inquired about voter data beyond the 2020 election.
“I have data and corroborating evidence strongly suggesting similar infractions occurred in the 2021 U.S. Senate runoff and the 2022 general election, and I expect to see more of the same in the 2024 general election unless measures are taken proactively to prevent that from occurring again,” Davis wrote in the Feb. 1 email. “If I make the effort to get that to you, is your office willing to open similar investigations?”
The email said Davis inquired about the matter to State Election Board member Ed Lindsey in November 2022 after contacting but not hearing back from Raffensperger’s office earlier that year.
“[Lindsey] indicated that he had not seen a complaint from me, and suggested I resubmit it through the online portal, which I did in late November of 2022,” Davis wrote, adding: “I recently inquired about that complaint as well, and it apparently cannot be located either.”
Raffensperger’s office counters that Davis is wrong about Georgia’s law.
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“Mr. Davis’ assertions are incorrect and mischaracterize Georgia’s laws,” spokesman Mike Hassinger told The Daily Signal in an emailed statement, adding:
This office previously reviewed his ‘data’ and disagreed with his conclusions. Georgia conducts rigorous list maintenance, including reviews based on NCOA [national change of address] data, within the requirements of state and federal law. Georgia law says that all persons whose names appear on the list of electors shall be allowed to deposit their ballots according to law at the precinct in which they are registered. None of the information provided by Mr. Davis shows evidence of what he erroneously describes as ‘illegal’ votes.
Raffensperger’s spokesman was referring to the state’s voter registration list, since Georgia law calls voters “electors.”
In 2015, then-Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a Republican who now is governor, voted along with the State Election Board to refer to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office a single case of a voter casting a ballot in the wrong county, Davis said.
“The Secretary of State’s Office changed its position on interpreting the law,” Davis told The Daily Signal. “The facts are no different than in 2015. Then you had one [ballot cast in the wrong place]; now you have thousands.”
Georgia election law says: “All persons whose names appear on the list of electors placed in the possession of the managers in each precinct and no others, except as otherwise provided in this article, shall be allowed to deposit their ballots according to law at the precinct in which they are registered.”
Davis said the law’s phrase “except as otherwise provided” reflects voters who are “not subsequently found to be disqualified” as discussed in another part of the statute, and those are “the exact voters we are talking about.”
In January, Davis won a federal court decision in a case in which he was a co-defendant along with the organization True the Vote and others. Fair Fight Action had sued over alleged voter intimidation after challenging the legality of votes.
Fair Fight Action was founded by Abrams, the twice-losing Democrat candidate for Georgia governor. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones of the Northern District of Georgia, appointed by President Barack Obama, ruled that Fair Fight Action had not presented evidence that voters were intimidated.
Davis provided his research to the Trump campaign during its challenge to the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. He testified to the Georgia State Senate’s Judiciary subcommittee on election law. IHe explained the illegal voting in sworn affidavits Nov. 30, 2020, nearly four weeks after the election, and on March 24, 2021, after the dispute was over.
“Mark Davis analyzed data from U.S. Postal Service change-of-address (COA) forms and compared it to voters who voted in their former precincts,” says the final state Senate report dated Dec. 3, 2020. “For example, he discovered that 14,980 out-of-state movers still voted in the Georgia general election. Another 40,279 moved across county lines more than 30 days prior to the election, yet still voted in their former county precincts, a violation of Georgia law.”
These initial numbers from shortly after the 2020 election included voters who filled out a change of address form by using a post office box. So these likely were not voters who moved to a different county.
The count he sent to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office was refined to subtract any addresses that included a post office box, Davis said.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
