Two of the most prominent Republicans in the race for governor locked in a war of words Thursday over a proposal that would replace the state’s aging voting system with paper ballots. It was the most public rift yet between Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, the two candidates in the governor’s race with statewide victories under their belts. And their feud, which escalated throughout the day, signaled the debate over the 16-year-old touch-screen voting network could play a larger role in the race to succeed Gov. Nathan Deal. It started when Cagle announced he would back a measure to scrap the state’s touch-screen voting machines and largely replace them with a paper-based system. He told WABE that a paper-ballot trail ensures “no games” could be played with votes.
Kemp’s most visible job involves overseeing the state’s elections, and his campaign took Cagle’s move as an insult. His spokesman said Cagle sided with “liberal conspiracy theorists” like Stacey Abrams, a Democratic candidate for governor, on the issue.
“Is Casey Cagle that desperate for higher office that he would side with the radical left to tear down Georgia and our institutions?” said Kemp, who added that the decision needs to involve lawmakers, voters and local officials and not “misinformed, craven candidates for higher office.”
Full Article: Cagle, Kemp battle over Georgia voting system.