Raffensperger staff

Raffensperger staff
Name	Raffensperger staff
Office	Office of the Secretary of State of Georgia
Incumbentsince	2019
Formation	2019

Raffensperger staff

The team surrounding the Georgia Secretary of State has operated at the intersection of state administration, election administration, and public policy since 2019. Its members have interacted with a wide range of figures and institutions including Brian Kemp, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Georgia General Assembly, and Georgia State University, while engaging with national organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and National Association of Secretaries of State. Staff activities have been situated amid events like the 2020 United States presidential election in Georgia, the 2021 United States Senate special election in Georgia, and hearings in the United States Congress.

Background and Appointment

The office staff were assembled following the 2018 electoral cycle and the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, working under the elected Secretary of State alongside officials tied to the Georgia Republican Party, Libertarian Party of Georgia, and advocacy groups such as Common Cause and the ACLU of Georgia. Appointments drew from personnel with prior service in agencies including the Georgia Department of Revenue, Georgia State Patrol, and municipal offices like the Atlanta City Council. Staffing decisions were influenced by interactions with federal actors including the Federal Election Commission and legal frameworks such as the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Key Staff Members

Key personnel have included chiefs of staff, general counsels, directors of elections, and communications directors who engaged with figures such as Brad Raffensperger, Gabriel Sterling, Kathy Raffensperger (family not staff but public figure), Tricia Pridemore (comparable officials), and legal advisers who liaised with attorneys like Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and law firms including King & Spalding and Mayer Brown. Other staff interacted with election technology vendors and experts connected to Dominion Voting Systems, Election Systems & Software, and cybersecurity firms linked to Microsoft and Google. The roster also contained policy analysts who referenced research from think tanks such as the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Brookings Institution, and coordinated with academic partners at Emory University, University of Georgia, and Georgia Tech.

Roles and Responsibilities

Staff roles encompassed administration of statewide processes such as voter registration, ballot certification, absentee ballot processing, and canvassing, requiring coordination with county officials like the Fulton County Board of Registrars, Gwinnett County Elections, and municipal clerks. Legal staff managed litigation in venues including the Supreme Court of Georgia, United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, taking account of statutes like the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Operational duties involved managing databases such as the statewide voter registration system and interfacing with federal programs from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and reporting to the Election Assistance Commission.

Election Security Initiatives

Initiatives emphasized forensic audits, post-election risk-limiting audits, chain-of-custody protocols, and vendor certification. Staff coordinated audits and recounts during the 2020 United States presidential election in Georgia and subsequent reviews involving entities such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, and state-certified auditors. Cybersecurity efforts entailed collaboration with the FBI, CISA, and private sector actors like CrowdStrike and FireEye as well as academic partners at Georgia Tech Research Institute. Training programs for local election officials drew on resources from the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Association of Secretaries of State, and grants administered through the Department of Homeland Security.

Controversies and Criticisms

Staff actions prompted scrutiny from political actors and media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fox News, and CNN. Controversies involved post-election calls from figures such as Donald Trump and legal challenges brought by groups including America First Policy Institute and litigants represented by firms like Jones Day. Investigations examined allegations linked to events such as the 2021 United States Capitol attack and subpoenas issued by legislative bodies like the Georgia House of Representatives and U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. Critics referenced forensic reports circulated by private entities and commentary from analysts at The Heritage Foundation and Lawfare; defenders cited statements from the Department of Justice and findings reported by the Associated Press.

Public Communications and Media Relations

Communications staff managed press relations with outlets including NPR, Reuters, Bloomberg News, and regional media such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and coordinated briefings for audiences including the Georgia General Assembly, civic organizations like The Carter Center, and professional associations like the American Bar Association. Messaging incorporated official statements, social media engagement across platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and webinars with partners including the Election Center and the Brennan Center for Justice. Media strategies navigated legal publicity rules, coordinating with outside counsel during litigation in courts including the Supreme Court of the United States and producing public records consistent with Georgia Open Records Act obligations.

Category:Politics of Georgia (U.S. state)