Politics
Georgia election challenge puts Savannah-area House nominee’s ballot status before judge
Democratic nominee David Dillie says someone else cast a Nevada absentee ballot in his name. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is seeking to remove him from the ballot after records showed votes in both states’ 2026 primaries.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — A Georgia administrative judge is set to consider whether Democratic state House nominee David Dillie should be disqualified from the Nov. 3 election after records showed he voted in the 2026 primaries in both Georgia and Nevada.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger filed a challenge with the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings on Thursday. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday. Dillie, the Democratic nominee for House District 161, says he will contest the effort.
Dillie said Monday that an absentee ballot submitted in his name in Nevada was forged. He said the person who cast it has come forward and signed an affidavit, which Dillie plans to present at the hearing.
The ballot was sent to the Las Vegas home of Dillie’s godfather, where Dillie lived for several years before moving to Georgia in 2024. Nevada expanded absentee voting during the COVID-19 pandemic, sending ballots to registered voters.
Raffensperger’s office began investigating after records indicating Dillie voted in both states’ primaries surfaced last month. The outcome of the challenge could determine whether Dillie remains on the ballot against Republican incumbent state Rep. Bill Hitchens in the Savannah-area district.
Georgia’s general election is Nov. 3, and early voting is underway. A decision on Dillie’s eligibility would come as voters prepare to choose the next representative for District 161.