♪♪ >>> HELLO.

I'M LISA RAYAM, HOST OF "MORNING EDITION" ON WADE IN ATLANTA.

WELCOME TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK YOUNG DEBATE SERIES.

THIS IS THE GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE AMONG CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR THIS DEBATE.

THEY ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, TED METZ, A LIBERTARIAN, WHO IS RETIRED, ENTREPRENEUR.

BEE NGUYEN A DEMOCRAT WHO SERVED IN THE GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

BRAD RAFFENSPERGER IS THE INCUMBENT SECRETARY OF STATE HERE IN GEORGIA.

NOW LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

MATT BROWN IS A DEMOCRACY REPORTER ON GEORGIA ELECTIONS FOR "THE WASHINGTON POST."

WELCOME.

AND MARK NIECE COVERS ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA GOVERNMENT FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTIONAL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S DEBATE, PLEASE VISIT SIT THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB WEBSITE ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG/DEBATES.

TO START THIS DEBATE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED ONE QUESTION.

CANDIDATES HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

MARK NIECE, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION TO TED METZ.

>> GOOD MORNING.

MR. METZ, YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO NOT JUST HAVE PAPER BALLOTS CAST ON PAPER BUT ALSO COUNTED BY HAND ON PAPER, RATHER THAN USING OPTICAL SCANNER MACHINES.

BUT HAND COUNTING BALLOTS WOULD TAKE LONGER AND STUDIES AND RESEARCH SHOW THAT HAND COUNTING BALLOTS IS LESS ACCURATE THAN COUNTING THEM BY SCANNING MACHINES.

WHY DO YOU THINK HAND COUNTING BALLOTS WILL INCREASE VOTER CONFIDENCE?

>> BECAUSE HUMANS GENERALLY HAVE A TENDENCY TO WANT TO BE HONEST.

THE THING IS THEY DO IT IN FRANCE WHERE THEY HAVE OVER 42 MILLION VOTERS.

THEY GO TO ELECTION DAY.

IT IS ALL HAND COUNTED AT THE PRECINCT LEVEL AND THEY ARE ALL DONE THAT NIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING UP WITH THE STUDIES THAT HAND COUNTING BALLOTS WOULD TAKE LONGER.

WE HAVE COUNTING MACHINES THAT ACCURATE REFLECT VOTER'S INTENT.

THERE IS NO REASON WE CAN'T HAND COUNT THE PAPER BALLOTS.

EVEN IF WE DO USE AN OPTICAL SCANNER THAT IS USED TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE VOTES, NOT THE QR CODE, WHICH IS AN LEGAL PROPOSITION TO OUR BALLOTS, WE STILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THE ACCURATE COUNTS OF THE BALLOTS WERE OR IS BECAUSE ONCE YOU PUT THINGS INTO A COMPUTER SYSTEM, YOUR VOTES BECOME A FRACTIONALIZED, MANIPULATED DATA POINT, NOT AN ACTUAL VOTE.

>> MR. METZ, THANK YOU.

MATT BROWN, IT IS YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION TO BEE NGUYEN.

>> THANK YOU.

REPRESENTATIVE NGUYEN, GEORGIA ELECTION WORKERS ENDURED DEATH THROATS, HARASS AND LAWSUITS MAKING THESE POSITIONS LESS DESIRABLE AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE POLL WORKERS HAVE SUCH A DIRECT IMPACT ON ELECTIONS, SHOULD THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE BE MORE INVOLVED IN RECRUITING AND PROTECTING POLL WORKERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION, WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT AFTER THE PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 202, THE WORKLOAD ON OUR LOCAL ELECTION BOARDS AND OUR ELECTION WORKERS HAS INCREASED WHILE THE FUNDING HAS DECREASED.

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO ADMINISTER FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN ALL 159 COUNTIES, AND POLL WORKERS ARE BEING THREATENED AND HARASSED.

WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOCAL BOARDS ARE WELL RESOURCED, WELL-EQUIPPED.

WE NEED TO REPEAL THE PROVISIONS OF SENATE BILL 202 THAT ADDED AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON OUR ELECTION WORKERS, INCLUDING HAVING TO SPEND CRITICAL TIME GOING OVER THESE MASSIVE VOTER CHALLENGES.

AT LEAST 65,000 HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND WE NEED PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR POLL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NGUYEN, THANK YOU.

MARK, YOUR QUESTION FOR BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

>> HERE IN GEORGIA, WE HAVE SEEN THESE VOTER CHALLENGES, OVER 65,000 THIS YEAR CHALLENGES VOTERS' ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTER ELECTIONS BASED ON INFORMATION THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE MOVED TO ANOTHER STATE.

SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER, THIS WAS ENHANCED UNDER GEORGIA'S VOTING LAW PASSED LAST YEAR ALLOWING AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.

DO YOU SUPPORT THESE TYPE OF VOTER CHALLENGES, THE ABILITY FOR VOTERS TO QUESTION THE ELIGIBILITY OF THEIR NEIGHBORS?

>> THANK YOU, MARK.

IT IS IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST, AND I THINK EVERYONE WOULD SHARE THAT SAME INTEREST THAT WE HAVE ACCURATE VOTER ROLES.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, FRIVOLOUS CHALLENGES JUST GUM UP THE WORKS.

AND IF I WAS LIVING IN ONE LOCATION FOR THE LAST 10 OR 20 YEARS, I WOULD BE OFFENDED ALSO.

SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME REFORM IN THE NEXT SESSION.

BUT I WANT ALL VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE LIVE IN A DYNAMIC MOBILE SOCIETY.

11 TO 13% OF ALL GEORGIA RESIDENTS MOVE EVERY YEAR.

WE'RE LOOKING AT 800,000 PEOPLE A YEAR THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MOVE IN THE STATE, OUT OF THE STATE, AROUND THE COUNTY.

THEREFORE, IT IS IMPORTANT WE UPDATE OUR VOTER ROLES.

I URGE AN ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION CENTER.

WHEN YOU MOVE FROM ANOTHER STATE TO GEORGIA, WE LEFT THAT MEMBER STATE KNOW THAT SO WE COULD HAVE UPDATED VOTER ROLES.

I THINK WE SHOULD DO ANNUAL LIST MAINTENANCE FOR THE COUNTIES.

>> SECRETAR RAFFENSPERGER, THANK YOU.

THE CANDIDATES WILL NOW ASK THE QUESTION OF AN OPPONENT OF THEIR CHOICE.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS TO ASK THE QUESTION.

60 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

AND THE CANDIDATE WHO ASKS THE QUESTION WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

BY RANDOM SELECTION, BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, YOU MAY ASK THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> MY QUESTION GOES TO BEE NGUYEN.

DO YOU AGREE WITH STACEY ABRAMS THAT THE 2018 ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM HER AS SHE HAS CLAIMED MANY, MANY TIMES.

DON'T YOU THINK ELECTION DENIAL IS A THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY?

>> BRIAN KEMP WON IN 2018.

AND JOE BIDEN WON THE ELECTION IN 2020.

I HAVE ALWAYS STOOD BY THE RESULTS OF OUR PAST ELECTIONS.

NOW, WHAT IS DIFFERENT BETWEEN MR. RAFFENSPERGER AND ME IS THAT STACEY ABRAMS AND I OPPOSE LAWS THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR GEORGIA RESIDENTS TO VOTE INCLUDING CRIMINALIZING HANDING OUT BOTTLES OF WATER TO VOTERS WAITING IN LINE.

BUT WHAT I FIND MORE ALARMING IS THAT MR. RAFFENSPERGER CONTINUES TO CALL HIMSELF A PROUD TRUMP SUPPORTER AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NOMINEE, WHO IS A FAKE ELECTOR, MR. RAFFENSPERGER AS RECENTLY AS LAST MONTH DESCRIBED HIS INTERACTIONS WITH BURT JONES AS BEING GREAT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO OVERTURN THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT POSES A GREATER THREAT THAN SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIGHT FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

>> PLEASE.

I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THOSE STOLEN ELECTION CLAIMS.

BUT A WASHINGTON POST REPORTER RECENTLY STATED, QUOTE, ABRAMS PLAYED UP CLAIMS THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN UNTIL SUCH TACTICS BECAME UNTENABLE FOR ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC NORMS AND VALUES.

I WILL POINT OUT YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING.

WE HAD 131,000 PEOPLE SHOW UP TO VOTE, ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT WE HAD FOR THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. RAFFENSPERGER.

TED METZ, YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. RAFFENSPERGER ABOUT THE INTERVIEW HE DID ON NBC NEWS THE MORNING AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION SAYING THAT 4.7 MILLION VOTES HAD BEEN CAST AND IT WAS THE HIGHEST TURN-OUT EVER.

AND THERE WAS ONLY 2% OF THE VOTES LEFT UNCOUNTED.

HE SAID THAT TRUMP HAD OVER 100,000 VOTE LEAD AND ONLY 90,000 VOTES WERE LEFT TO COUNT WHICH WOULD FINISH LATER THAT DAY AND THE COUNT WOULD NOT CHANGE THE OUTCOME JUST BEFORE THE FEED WAS CUT.

DAYS LATER, 4.9 MILLION VOTERS WERE CERTIFIED.

AND THE QUESTION IS WHY DID YOU ALLOW THE ELECTION RESULTS BE SO OBVIOUS -- >> PLEASE STATE YOUR QUESTION QUICKLY.

>> WHY DID YOU ALLOW THE ELECTION RESULTS BE SO OBVIOUSLY CORRUPTED?

>> IN THE 2020 RACE, I MADE SURE THAT WE HAD AN HONEST AND FAIR ELECTION AND EVERY SINGLE BALLOT WAS COUNTED.

IN FACT, EVERY SINGLE BALLOT WAS COUNTED THROUGH THE SCANNERS WAS HAND COUNTED.

WE DID A 100% HAND RECOUNT TO VERIFY THE RESULTS.

I WILL STANDBY THOSE RESULTS.

BUT AFTER THE 2020 RACE, THERE WAS ALL SORTS OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION.

SO I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING ALL OVER THE STATE TALKING TO YOU, THE VOTER, TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION.

HERE'S WHAT THE FACTS WERE, AND I WILL STANDBY THOSE RESULTS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY PRESIDENT TRUMP DID COME UP SHORT.

AND PRIMARILY HE CAME UP SHORT BECAUSE 24,000 GEORGIANS SKIPPED THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

WE DID 100% HAND RECOUNT.

WE AUDITED THE MACHINES AFTER AND CHECKED EVERY SINGLE ALLEGATION THAT WAS MADE AND THOSE RESULTS WERE ACCURATE.

>> MR. METZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

>> ON THAT NBC INTERVIEW, YOU SAID WE DON'T GUESS.

4.7 MILLION VOTERS OR GEORGIANS VOTERS AND YOU SAID COUNTING WOULD FINISH THAT DAY AND THE OUTCOME WOULD NOT CHANGE DONALD INSTEAD YOU ALLOWED THE CONTINUING COUNTING OF VOTES FOR THREE DAYS AND OVER 200,000 MORE VOTES WERE ADDED TO THE RESULTS, AND THAT CHANGED THE OUTCOME IN GEORGIA.

SO I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THE STAGE THAT WOULD END THESE ELECTION SHENANIGANS.

>> MR. METZ, THANK YOU.

BEE NGUYEN, YOU GET THE FINAL QUESTION.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER, IN 2018 WHEN YOU RAN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE FOUR YEARS AGO, YOU FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TELL GEORGIA ABOUT YOUR ANTI-CHOICE CHANCE.

AND, IN FACT, YOU TOUTED THE ENDORSEMENTS OF TWO ANTI-ABORTION GROUPS.

AND DURING YOUR CLOSING DEBATE IN 2018, YOU SAID I HAVE 100% RATING FROM THE FAITH AND FREEDOM COALITION.

I'M PRO LIFE.

YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ABORTION BACK THEN.

WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW?

>> WELL, YOUR QUESTION SHOWS THAT YOU FUNDAMENTALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSING.

OUR OFFICE PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE WE DON'T SELECT THE BOARDS.

THE BOARDS RUN THEIR SHOP.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LICENSING, DISCIPLINE AND RULES.

JOB ONE IS TO KNOW THE JOB, AND YOU DON'T KNOW THE JOB.

>> MS. NGUYEN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND.

>> SINCE YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR RECORD, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR GEORGIA VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS A LAWMAKER YOU INTRODUCED A BILL SO EXTREME IT WOULD HAVE OUTLAWED ALL ABORTIONS CONTRACEPTIONS.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE WORKERS DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO TRUST A STAUNCH, ANTI-ABORTION SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE WOMEN OF GEORGIA NEED TO KNOW WHETHER THEY WANT TO TRUST.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND.

FOR THOSE JUST JOINING US, THIS IS THE GENERAL ELECTION DEBATE FOR CANDIDATES OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE WILL GO BACK TO THE PANEL UNTIL WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

AS A POINT OF MODERATED PRIVILEGE, I MAY ALSO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES.

I WILL THEN DETERMINE WHEN A REBUTTAL IS APPROPRIATE.

MATT BROWN, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> THANK YOU.

SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER, DURING THE PRIMARY, YOU REPEATEDLY TOLD VOTERS THAT GEORGIA ELECTIONS COULD BE UNDERMINED BY NON-CITIZENS VOTING ILLEGALLY.

IN MARCH YOUR OWN OFFICE FOUND THEY FOUND ZERO BALLOTS CAST BY NON-AMERICANS.

FOR THREE MORE MONTHS YOU CONTINUED CAMPAIGNING ON THIS ISSUE.

WHY ARE YOU AMPLIFYING CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD THAT GEORGIA ELECTION OFFICIALS IN YOUR OWN OFFICE HAVE DISMISSED?

>> I DID A 100% CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION OF OUR VOTER ROLES AND WE FOUND 1,634 NON-CITIZENS WHO ATTEMPTED TO REGISTER.

I BELIEVE THAT ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOULD VOTE.

I COMPARE THAT SOMEWHAT TO BEING ON A JURY POOL.

YOU HAVE TO BE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN TO BE ON THE JURY.

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME YOU HAVE TO BE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.

I THINK THAT 80% OF ALL GEORGIANS SUPPORT ME ON THAT.

ONCE YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE WILL PROBABLY BE WHEN YOU BECOME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND YOU GET TO GO OUT AND CAST YOUR BALLOT AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN FOR THE PERSON YOU CHOOSE TO VOTE FOR.

>> SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER, THANK YOU.

MARK NIECE, IT IS YOUR TURN TO ASK THE QUESTION.

>> SURE.

THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ALL CANDIDATES STARTING WITH THE SECRETARY AND MOVING ON FROM HIM.

AFTER THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THERE WERE MANY INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOUNTS AND MANY CLAIMS OF FRAUD HAVE EITHER BEEN NOT PROVEN OR DEBUNKED.

NO COUNTERFEIT BALLOTS HAVE BEEN FOUND.

THE SECRETARY TO HAVE STATE'S OFFICE AND GBI OFFICE DID AN AUDIT AND THERE WAS A STATEWIDE HAND RECOUNT AND VERY FEW EVEN ELIGIBLE VOTERS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

I THINK THERE WERE FOUR DEAD VOTERS THAT WERE FOUND.

IF EACH OF YOU IS ELECTED SECRETARY OF STATE, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE STATUS OF INVESTIGATIONS AND THEIR OUTCOMES?

>> I HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT.

I HAVE TRAVELED ACROSS THE STATE.

I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH ALL SORTS OF GROUPS.

I WILL TALK TO ANY GROUP TO GIVE THEM THE FACTS AND INFORMATION BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING BACK ON ELECTION DENIALERS SINCE 2018.

2020 WAS NOT OUR FIRST RODEO.

WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IT IS EASY TO VOTE IN GEORGIA.

YESTERDAY WE HAD RECORD REGISTRATION.

PEOPLE SAID THERE WAS 10,000 DEAD PEOPLE THAT VOTED IN 2020.

THERE WAS ONLY 4.

EVERYTHING WAS VERIFIED.

WE CALLED IN THE GBI.

WE CALLED IN THE FBI.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HAND PICKED INVESTIGATORS LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED, AND NOTHING HAPPENED.

BUT I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF MYTHS OUT THERE.

THAT'S WHY I CONTINUE TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE.

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IN GEORGIA AS LONG AS I AM SECRETARY OF STATE, I WILL MAKE SURE WE HAVE HONEST AND FAIR ELECTIONS FOR EVERYONE.

I WORK FOR THE VOTERS.

I DON'T WORK FOR CANDIDATES.

I WORK FOR THE VOTERS.

I WORK FOR YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

BEE NGUYEN?

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY IN USING FACTS.

WE KNOW THAT ZERO NON-CITIZENS HAVE VOTED IN GEORGIA.

AND IT'S A NON-ISSUE.

AND IT IS ACTUALLY AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN PEDDLED BY CONSPIRACY THEORISTS.

WE KNOW THAT SYDNEY POWELL AND OTHER TRUMP ALLIES BREACHED THE ELECTION OFFICE AND COPIED SENSITIVE DATA.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE WAS ASKED ABOUT IT, THEY GAVE US THREE DIFFERENT TIME LINES.

IT'S BEEN 21 MONTHS.

NOBODY HAS BEEN HELD CRIMINALLY ACCOUNTABLE.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE FAILED TO PULL CAMERA FOOTAGE THAT WOULD HAVE CONFIRMED THE BREACH DID, INDEED, HAPPEN.

AND IT TOOK A YEAR AND A HALF TO BRING GBI IN TO INVESTIGATE THESE CLAIMS.

THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC TRUST.

AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE MISHANDLED THAT INVESTIGATION.

AND AS SECRETARY OF STATE, I WOULD BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER?

>> I WILL.

I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND PEOPLE THAT BROKE THE LAW SHALL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND SENT TO JAIL.

WE FOUND THAT MISTY PUT HER PASSWORDS UP ON YOUTUBE.

WE BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION AND SUBSEQUENTLY WE RESIGNED.

WE HAVE AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

BUT LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE BROKE THE LAW.

THEY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND GO TO JAIL.

>> THANK YOU.

TED METZ, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND?

>> I WOULD BECAUSE THERE IS STILL UNRESOLVED ISSUES IN THE 2020 ELECTION, INCLUDING SIX SWORN AFFIDAVITS FROM FULTON COUNTY EMPLOYEES SAYING THERE WERE PROBABLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COUNTERFEIT BALLOTS AND EVEN THOUGH THE GBI AND FBI LOOKED THROUGH THE BALLOTS, SURE THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN AS A GBI INVESTIGATION.

MORE THAN 17,000 VOTES WERE CAST THAN THERE ARE BALLOT IMAGES TO SUPPORT THAT NUMBER OF VOTES.

DROP BOX FOR SURVEILLANCE SHOWS 18,000 UNACCOUNTED FOR VOTES.

THERE IS IMPROPER CHAIN OF CUSTODY VOTES FOR OVER 7,000 BALLOTS STATEWIDE.

86,000 VOTERS IN THE 2020 ELECTION HAD FALSE REGISTRATION DATES OF 2017.

BUT THEY ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THE 2017 DATA.

OVER 1.7 ORIGINAL BALLOT IMAGES ARE LOST OR DESTROYED IN SEVEN COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE.

I'M SAYING IT IS NOT CREDIBLE.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER, YOU ARE THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WHEN WE WROTE HOUSE BILL 316 AND BROUGHT IN THE VERIFIABLE PAPER BALLOT, WHAT WE SAID THE OFFICIAL BALLOT IS THE PAPER BALLOT, AND WE HAVE THE PAPER BALLOTS ON FILE, ON RECORD.

WE DID 100% HAND RECOUNT AND WE GOT THE RESULTS THAT WE GOT.

>> I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU.

THE NEW ELECTION LAW HERE IN GEORGIA ALLOWS FOR UNLIMITED CHALLENGES AND VOTER REGISTRATION.

THUS FAR THERE HAS BEEN COMPLAINTS FILED.

THE MAJORITY TOSSED OUT.

IS THIS AN ADEQUATE USE OF RESOURCES?

IF NOT, WILL YOU ACTIVELY WORK TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

MR. RAFFENSPERGER, YOU FIRST.

>> I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD SUPPORT REFORM WORKING WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I THINK THE PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE LIVE IN A MOBILE DYNAMIC SOCIETY.

BUT WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE 18 TO 24-MONTH PROCESS.

ONCE WE GOT THE AUTHORITY WE BEGAN THAT PROCESS.

BUT NOW IT'S FULLY IMPLEMENTED.

I WISH ALL 50 STATES WERE PART OF THAT BECAUSE IT HELPS US WITH CROSS STATE MOVES AND HAVING A CLEAN VOTER RISK.

WE'RE RECOGNIZED BY THE ELECTION REFORM FOR HAVING ONE OF THE CLEANEST AND MOST ACCURATE ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT WE HAVE ACCURATE VOTER ROLES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THAT.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT YEARLY AND ANNUALLY EVERY COUNTY SHOULD HAVE TO DO ANNUAL LIST MAINTENANCE JUST TO BE ANOTHER VERIFICATION FOR THAT.

BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCURATE VOTER ROLES, AND WE DO.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NGUYEN?

>> WELL, LET'S BE CLEAR.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY -- MANY REASONS WHY I VOTED AGAINST SENATE BILL 202 IS BECAUSE OF THESE UNLIMITED VOTER CHALLENGES.

RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, WE KNOW AT LEAST 65,000 GEORGIANS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED INCLUDING MILITARY OVERSEAS VOTERS AND STUDENTS.

AND MANY OF THESE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN REJECTED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE.

HERE WE ARE TAKING CRITICAL ELECTION RESOURCES AND ADDRESSING AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE LAW OF THE LAND.

AND HERE'S THE THING.

WHEN ASKED ON HOW TO HANDLE THESE MASS VOTER ELECTION CHALLENGES, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE ISSUED A MEMO THAT BASICALLY SAID LOCAL ELECTION BOARDS, FIGURE IT OUT YOURSELF.

BUT THE MEMO HAD ER ERRONEOUS INFORMATION.

HE HAD TO RETRACT THAT STATEMENT BECAUSE HE WAS THREATENED WITH LITIGATION.

>> OUT OF FAIRNESS, MR. METZ, QUICKLY.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

>> MY RESPONSE IS THE VOTER CHALLENGES HAVE TO MAINTAIN A CLEAR AND CONCISE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED OUT USING THE NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS SYSTEM AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH CERTIFICATE SYSTEM.

THERE WERE OVER 20,000 VOTERS THAT HAD MOVED OUT PRIOR TO THE ELECTION.

YET, THEY STILL SHOWED UP AS HAVING VOTED.

THE SYSTEM IS CORRUPT.

IT ALLOWS THIRD PARTIES ACCESS.

NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR VOTER DATABASE ON THE CLOUD, IT IS NOT SECURE.

IT ALLOWS THIRD AND FOURTH PARTIES INTO OUR VOTER DATABASE.

THEY NEED TO HAVE A SECURE VOTER DATABASE ONLY WITH AUTHORIZED ACCESS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. METZ.

SORRY TO CUT YOU SHORT.

30 MINUTES IS A SHORT TIME, ISN'T IT?

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL NOW HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

REPRESENTATIVE NGUYEN, YOU GET THE FIRST CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> OVER 44 YEARS AGO, MY PARENTS FLED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A BOAT IN SEARCH OF BASIC CIVIL LIBERTIES, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE FREEDOM OF PRESS AND THE RIGHT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

AND RIGHT NOW, OUR BASIC RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE AND THE FREEDOM TO VOTE.

AS A LAWMAKER, I HAVE WITNESSED GEORGIA REPUBLICANS AND MR. RAFFENSPERGER PASS LAWS TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR GEORGIANS TO VOTE.

THE MOST POWERFUL CORNERSTONE OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS THE IDEA OF ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, YOUR RELIGION, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE, WHEN YOU GET TO THE BALLOT BOX, YOUR VOTE COUNTS EXACTLY THE SAME AS ANYBODY ELSE'S.

I'M RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO VOTE FOR ALL ELIGIBLE GEORGIANS AND THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THIS STAGE THAT IS BOTH PRO CHOICE AND PRO DEMOCRACY.

>> SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER?

>> IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

WE HAVE RECORD REGISTRATION, RECORD VOTER TURN-OUT.

WE HAVE A VERIFIABLE PAPER BALL ROT AND SOME OF THE CLEANEST VOTER ROLES IN THE COUNTRY.

ALSO I REPORT THE RESULTS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT.

I HAVE HAD TO STAND UP TO THE INCREDIBLE PRESSURE.

AND I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND UP TO PRESSURE.

WHEN I DO THAT, I'M STANDING UP FOR YOU, THE VOTER.

I'M STANDING UP FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND I'M STANDING UP FOR THE RULE OF LAW.

MANY PEOPLE BUCKLED AND FOLDED.

I DIDN'T.

AND I WON'T.

I WILL STAND FOR YOU BECAUSE I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW.

I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION.

I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO, THEREFORE, I'M EXCITED THAT PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT SB-202, HOW IT WILL DESTROY AND HURT TURN-OUT AND YET YESTERDAY WE HAD DOUBLE THE TURN-OUT WE HAD FOUR YEARS AGO.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT HARD FOR FAIR ELECTIONS FOR EVERYONE.

I'M WORKING FOR YOU AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU STAND WITH ME.

I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU.

>> MR. METZ, YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD TODAY.

CAN WE HAVE YOUR FINAL CLOSING STATEMENT?

>> YES.

GEORGIA, IT IS TIME TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND VOTE YOUR CONSCIOUS FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE, PRINCIPAL OVER PARTY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF OUR REPUBLIC.

REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU HEAR A POLITICIAN OR NEWSCASTER SAY THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE.

UNDERSTAND THE DEMOCRACY IS 51 VEGANS AND 49 CARNIVORES ARGUING OVER WHAT'S FOR DINNER.

THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, WE WILL ALL BE EATING CRICKETS PRETTY SOON.

WE NEED TO STOP ELECTING PSYCHO PATHS.

THE TRUTH IS OUR GOVERNMENT IS A REPUBLIC, A NATION GOVERNED BY THE RULE OF LAW.

IT IS NOT A DEMOCRACY.

THE THREAT OF RESTORING A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC IS FRIGHTENING TO THE PSYCHOPATHS.

KEEP IN MIND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS A MEASURE OF HOW MUCH THEY SOLD US OUT.

WE HAVE TO STOP ELECTS PSYCHOPATHS.

THEY WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR AND THEN SERVE THEMSELVES AND THE SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT FUNDED THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR ACTS.

>> THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR DEBATE.

WE LIKE TO REMIND VOTERS THAT ELECTION DAY IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th.

AND EARLY VOTING HAS ALREADY BEGUN.

OUR THANKS TO THE CANDIDATES AND TO OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR ARRANGING TODAY'S DEBATE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEBATE THEY WILL HOST THIS ELECTION SEASON.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.