Jill Nolin | The Valdosta Daily TimesJohn Barrow, the Democratic candidate for secretary of state, stands next to an empty podium meant to represent Brad Raffensperger during a debate earlier this week. 

ATLANTA – Allegations of election mismanagement have raised the profile of Georgia’s unfinished Secretary of State contest, which has drawn a presidential endorsement and the focus of Democrats pushing for election reform. 

The race pits a former congressman, Democrat John Barrow, against Atlanta-area Republican businessman and state representative Brad Raffensperger, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump in a tweet earlier this week. 

“@VoteBradRaff is tough on Crime and Borders, Loves our Military and Vets. He will be great for jobs!” the President tweeted. 

But Tuesday, all eyes were on Barrow, who was the only candidate to participate in the Atlanta Press Club debate – the only televised debate of the runoff. Raffensperger cited a scheduling conflict and criticized the press club invitation as being “last minute” – a claim the group challenged. 

The show went on, as per the press club’s rules, with Raffensperger represented by an empty podium. 

“I just think it’s a missed opportunity for my opponent to come defend what he’s been saying – which ain’t true – about my positions on the issues,” the Athens Democrat told reporters afterwards. 

Specifically, Barrow used the event to respond to Raffensperger’s claims he would throw out the photo ID requirement and refuse to keep to the voter rolls up to date. 

Barrow said he believes voters should be expected to produce identification at the polls. And while he said he supports keeping the voter rolls up to date, he opposes how the state is currently doing it. 

“It should be harder to get kicked off the rolls, if you’re an honest citizen entitled to vote and who has been registered to vote for years, than it is to get your water turned off,” Barrow said. “But it is easier to get kicked off the rolls than it is to have your water turned off. You get less notice.” 

Raffensperger had about 49.1 percent of the vote to Barrow’s 48.7 percent earlier this month. The Libertarian candidate, Smythe DuVal, who had 2.2 percent, has since backed Barrow. 

Raffensperger, who lives in Johns Creek, participated in the Atlanta Press Club’s televised debate during the general election. Raffensperger said Tuesday he had an event in Moultrie, which is about 200 miles away from midtown Atlanta. His campaign noted he participated in a live radio debate with Barrow just Monday. 

“Our campaign wants to participate but has a long-standing commitment that we cannot reschedule,” Raffensperger’s campaign said in a statement. 

Raffensperger and the press club issued competing statements over what led to his absence, with the group saying its communication with the Raffensperger campaign started just days after the Nov. 6 election. 

The debate was held as Fair Fight Georgia, which is a Stacey Abrams-backed group, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s election practices, such as the “exact match” voter registration law. Abrams narrowly lost the governor’s race to former Secretary of State Brian Kemp. 

Early voting is underway. Election Day is Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Jill Nolin covers the Georgia Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach her at jnolin@cnhi.com.

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