Have you ever wondered what happens when the little details in a massive process like a presidential election get overlooked? It’s easy to think everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, but sometimes, those small oversights can spark big questions. In Georgia’s Fulton County, something like that came to light recently—one of those moments that makes you pause and think about how fragile trust in our systems can be.
Picture this: thousands of votes pouring in during early voting, machines humming away, and at the end of each day, there are supposed to be these printouts—long strips of paper showing the tally. Workers are meant to sign them, confirming everything’s accurate and closing out the count properly. But in 2020, for a huge chunk of early votes in one of Georgia’s biggest counties, those signatures never happened.
It’s not every day that a county openly acknowledges a slip-up from five years ago. Yet, during a recent hearing, representatives for Fulton County didn’t push back on the claim. They straight-up agreed it was a violation of the rules back then. Now, with better training and new procedures in place, things are different—or so they say. But that doesn’t erase what occurred, does it?
The Unsigned Tapes Issue in Fulton County
Let’s break this down a bit. In election lingo, these printouts are called tabulator tapes. They’re like receipts from the voting machines, showing the totals at the end of the day. Georgia law is pretty clear: officials need to print multiple copies, have poll workers sign them, and that acts as the official seal on the day’s count. It prevents mix-ups, like votes from one day bleeding into another, and maintains what’s known as the chain of custody.
According to records reviewed by an election watchdog, none of the tapes for early voting in Fulton County had those required signatures. We’re talking about tapes linked to over 315,000 votes—that’s a significant number in a state where margins can be razor-thin. One activist spent thousands digging through public records to uncover this, pulling out dozens of these unsigned documents.
Signed tapes are meant to be the primary way to verify that the numbers reported are genuine and untouched.
Without them, how do we really know the counts were locked in correctly? It’s a fair question, especially when procedures are there for a reason. In my view, these kinds of protocols aren’t just red tape—they’re the guardrails that keep everything fair and verifiable.
What the Hearing Revealed
The discussion happened at a state election board meeting earlier this month. An investigator presented findings from years of complaints, pointing out how most advanced voting locations skipped the signing step entirely. The county’s lawyer responded candidly: they weren’t disputing the facts. It happened under old leadership, and since then, they’ve overhauled training and facilities.
Fair enough, improvements are good. But admitting a rule was broken doesn’t automatically fix the past. A state probe had already confirmed the issue, noting failures in dozens of locations. They even found problems with “zero tapes”—those starting-of-day printouts that prove machines were cleared and ready.
Think about it. If there’s no proof the machine started at zero, who’s to say old test data or leftover counts didn’t sneak in? It’s happened elsewhere, leading to extra votes popping up unexpectedly. Not saying it did here, but the lack of documentation opens the door to doubt.
- Over 130 tabulator tapes reviewed were completely unsigned
- Representing nearly all early in-person votes in the county
- State rules require multiple signatures for official certification
- Additional issues with unverified zero tapes at many sites
These aren’t minor typos. They’re breaks in the process designed to ensure accuracy and prevent tampering.
Why Chain of Custody Matters So Much
Chain of custody—it’s a term you hear a lot in elections these days. Basically, it’s the paper trail proving every ballot and count was handled properly, from cast to certified. Signed tapes are a key link in that chain. Without them, certifying totals to the state level becomes questionable, at least on a technical level.
One perspective is that this was just administrative sloppiness during a chaotic time—pandemic, high turnout, new procedures. The county has emphasized they’ve fixed it now with better oversight. On the other hand, critics argue that skipping required steps undermines the whole certification, making those votes technically uncertified.
These aren’t clerical errors. They’re serious gaps in verification and security.
I’ve always thought that in something as important as voting, cutting corners—even unintentionally—can erode confidence. When margins are close, every detail counts. And in 2020, Georgia was as close as it gets.
Interestingly, court rulings have stressed that counties have a duty to certify results regardless of hiccups. But that doesn’t mean ignoring violations. The board even discussed potential fines and further reviews of stored materials.
Broader Context in Georgia Elections
Fulton County isn’t new to scrutiny. It’s the state’s most populous, home to Atlanta, and has faced multiple probes over the years. From recount discrepancies to record-keeping issues, patterns of procedural lapses have emerged. Yet, multiple audits and recounts back then matched the overall totals, suggesting no massive shifts in outcomes.
Still, consistency in numbers doesn’t excuse breaking rules. A clerical error here or there might not flip results, but when it affects hundreds of thousands of votes, it demands attention. Recent federal interest in old records hints that questions linger.
Perhaps the most intriguing part is how this resurfaced now, years later. An open records request costing over $15,000 brought it to the forefront. It shows how persistent digging can uncover overlooked details.
- Early voting sees massive turnout in 2020 amid changes
- Required end-of-day tapes go unsigned across most sites
- Complaint filed, investigated, and substantiated
- County admits violation in recent hearing
- Calls for accountability and further examination
Looking ahead, Georgia has tightened some laws and procedures. Monitoring teams, enhanced training—these are steps forward. But reflecting on past issues helps build better systems.
What This Means for Election Trust
At the end of the day, elections rely on trust. When procedures aren’t followed to the letter, that trust takes a hit. Some see this as proof of deeper problems; others as fixable human error in a high-pressure environment. The truth likely lies somewhere in between.
In my experience following these stories, transparency is key. Admitting mistakes, like the county did, is a start. But full accountability—fines, reviews, whatever it takes—helps restore faith.
Questions remain: Were these votes still valid despite the lapse? Did it affect anything beyond paperwork? Multiple checks back then said numbers held up. But the “what ifs” persist.
One thing’s clear—this highlights why strict protocols exist. They’re not bureaucracy for its own sake. They’re there to ensure every vote is counted right, and everyone can see it.
As we move further from 2020, stories like this remind us that election integrity isn’t partisan—it’s fundamental. Fixing flaws, learning lessons, that’s how we strengthen the process for everyone.
What do you think? Do procedural violations like unsigned tapes undermine results, or are they overblown in hindsight? It’s worth pondering as we head into future cycles.
(Note: This article draws from public hearings and investigations. No evidence of widespread fraud altering outcomes has been found in related audits, but the procedural issues raise valid concerns about compliance.)
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