At the December 9, 2025 Georgia State Election Board hearing, Fulton County admitted to certifying approximately 315,000 early ballots in the 2020 presidential election without required signatures on tabulator tapes, violating state law and breaking the chain of custody. This admission stemmed from a complaint filed by election integrity activist David Cross in March 2022, alleging that the county failed to provide signed tapes for these votes despite open records requests. The board voted to refer the matter to the Attorney General, imposing a $740,000 fine—calculated at $5,000 per violation for 148 unsigned tapes. These 315,000 uncertified votes, far exceeding President Trump’s 11,779-vote loss margin in Georgia, have placed a spotlight on potential fraud, though no direct evidence of altered outcomes was presented.
Cross’s original complaint, detailed in a demand letter to the board, accused Fulton County of statutory violations in handling advanced voting, demanding accountability for the unsigned tapes that legally certify vote totals. During his testimony at the December 9, 2025, hearing, Cross urged, “We should have an asterisk by the results for Georgia in 2020… trust in our elections will remain broken.” Another revelation came from county attorney Ann Brumbaugh, who acknowledged that poll pads were remotely wiped, stating, “KNOWiNK was able to remotely wipe them.” Cross countered that this implied unauthorized internet access, a critical vulnerability.
This issue underscores broader 2020 election integrity. Allegations of remote access and wiping capabilities fueled lawsuits and claims of hackability, suggesting potential manipulation without detection—echoing national debates over machine security that questioned results in battleground states. The Georgia case highlights ongoing calls for paper-based reforms to restore voter confidence amid persistent technological doubts.