>>> HELLO, I'M SCOTT SLATE HOST OF ATLANTA'S MORNING, NEWS, AND WELCOME TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG, THIS IS THE DEBATE AMONG REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES, THEY ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, DAVID BELLE ISLE, AN ATTORNEY OF FORMER MAYOR OF ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, JODY HICE, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 10.

TJ HUDSON IS THE FORMER PROBATE AND MAGISTRATE JUDGE, AND BRAD RAFFENSPERGER IS THE UNCOUPLE BENT SECRETARY OF STATE OF GEORGIA.

LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS, HAILEY MANSON A POLITICAL REPORTER FOR PBS 6 AND MARK NEISE REPORTS FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION.

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S DEBATE, PLEASE VISIT THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB WEB SITE AT ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG.

CANDIDATES HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION.

YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION TO JODY HICE.

>>> CONGRESSMAN HICE, DONALD TRUMP IT NOT WIN THE 2020 ELECTION.

THIS WAS SHOWN BY MULTIPLE VOTE COUNTS, THREE VOTE COUNTS, MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS, COURT CASES, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE FBI, THE GBI, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

THEY HAVE ALL LOOKED AT DOZENS AND DOZENS OF ALLEGATIONS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU STILL BELIEVE THE MYTH THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

HOW CAN VOTERS TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT IF YOU'RE ELECTED SECRETARY OF STATE?

>> THANK YOU, MARK, FOR THE QUESTION AND THANKS TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR HAVING US HERE.

LOOK, THE BIG LIE IN ALL OF THIS IS THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS IN THIS PAST ELECTION.

THIS LAST ELECTION WAS FILLED WITH PROBLEMS.

BEGINNING WITH BRAD RAFFENSPERGER UNSOLICITED SENDING OUT 6.9 MILLION BALLOT REQUEST FORMS KNOWING THAT OUR VOTER REGISTRATION FILE IS SOME 10% INACCURATE.

THEN WE HAVE DROPOFF BOXES THAT WERE ADDED TO THE GEORGIA ELECTION.

WE ARE NOW WATCHING FOOTAGE IN THE TUNE OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF BALLOT HARVESTING TAKING PLACE IN THIS STATE.

LISTEN, THIS PAST ELECTION WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, AND IT'S FOR THAT REASON, I'M LEADING A SAFE CONGRESS FALL DISTRICT TO TAKE ON ONE I BELIEVE IS THE WORST SECRETARY OF STATE PERHAPS IN OUR NATION, BUT CERTAINLY HERE IN OUR OWN STATE.

ELECTION SECURITY MUST BE PROTECTED AND BRAD RAFFENSPERGER LET THAT BALL MAJORLY FALL.

>> WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW REBUTTALS HERE FOR DIRECT MENTIONS AND DIRECT ATTACKS.

MR. RAFFENSPERGER, YOU WANT TO TAKE 30 SECONDS TO ANSWER THAT OR WAIT UNTIL LATER.

>> JODY HICE IS LYING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTION OF 2020, IS 28,000 GEORGIANS SKIPPED THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND VOTED DOWN BALLOT IN OTHER RACES.

I'M THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE TO DO OVER AT OVER 400 RESULTS OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS, WE SENT THOSE TO THE LOCAL PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS OR TO THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE.

MORE INVESTIGATIONS THAN EVER.

I MADE SURE THAT WE HAD SAFE AND SECURE ELECTIONS.

WE STOOD UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC IN SECURITY FEATURES LIKE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT TASK FRAUD SOURCE.

TO BE SURE IF THERE WAS FRAUD, WE HAD PEOPLE LIKE BOBBY CHRISTINE, HAND PICKED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BE ON MY TASK FORCE TO MAKE SURE OF THAT.

THE REAL ISSUE IS NONCITIZEN VOTING.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. RAFFENSPERGER!

>> HE CALLED ME A LIAR.

CAN I RESPOND OR NO?

>> WE'LL GET TO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>> HAILEY MASON, IT'S YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION TO BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

>> YOU HAVE SAID SEVERAL TIMES OEMP THE LAST TWO YEARS THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD IN GEORGIA AND YOU HAVE ALSO AT THIS POINT LAUNCHED YOUR CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT VOTER FRAUD WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PREVENTING NONCITIZEN VOTING.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THRUST AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAMPAIGN GIVEN THAT DATA?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M THE ONLY ONE ON THE STAGE THAT IS FIGHTING NONCITIZEN VOTING, MAKING SURE THAT ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE IN OUR VOTER ROLLS AND AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE VOTING IN OUR ELECTIONS.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THE STAGE WITH REAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, GROWING A BUSINESS FROM THE GROUND FLOOR UP WHILE JODY HICE HAS LIVED OFF THE TAXPAYERS FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS NOW.

I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS SUCCESSFULLY OUTLAWED BALLOT HARVESTING AND I'LL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE EVERY CHARGE WE SEE.

I'M THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE TO DO A 100% CITIZENSHIP CHECK OF OUR VOTER ROLLS TO MAKE SURE ONLY AMERICANS ARE ON THE VOTING ROLLS.

OVER A WEEK AGO JODY HICE SAID QUOTE NONCITIZEN VOTING WAS NOT HIS HIGHEST PRIORITY.

IT'S MY HIGHEST PRIORITY.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO DRAFT AND PASS REAL ELECTION REFORM MEASURES.

JODY HICE HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW, HAS NOT DONE A SINGLE PIECE OF ELECTION REFORM LEGISLATION.

I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE WE PUSH BACK AGAINST LAWSUIT BY FAIR FIGHT AND CONTINUE AND CHECK AND VERIFY WHO YOU ARE ON THE VOTER ROLLS.

>> MR. HICE, REBUTTAL.

>> YOU WOULD THINK OUR SECRETARY OF STATE WOULD BE AWARE OF THE FACT IT'S UP TO THE STATE TO SECURE ELECTIONS NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHILE I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING IN WASHINGTON TO PREVENT A FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF OUR ELECTIONS, BRAD RAFFENSPERGER WAS MAKING DEALS WITH STACEY ABRAMS AND OPENED WIDE THE DOOR FOR ELECTION FRAUD IN THIS STATE IN EVERY WAY.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT SOMEONE WOULD KNOW THAT HIS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO SECURE ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE BUT BRAD RAFFENSPERGER HAS MISRABBLELY FAILED.

>> MARK, YOUR QUESTION FOR TJ HUDSON.

>> MR. HUDSON, I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD LIKE A PAPER RECEIPT FOR VOTERS TO BRING HOME AFTER THEY VOTE, BUT THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE OR ALLOWED IN GEORGIA BECAUSE THAT WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE TO PROVE WHO THEY VOTED FOR AND POTENTIALLY GET PAID FOR THEIR VOTE.

WHY AREN'T YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR BRIBERY OF HAVING PEOPLE BRING HOME PAPER BALLOTS?

>> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

THE REASON WE SWITCHED FROM THE SYSTEM WE PREVIOUSLY HAD TO THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW IS BECAUSE GEORGIA VOTERS WANTED SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME, A RECEIPT.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD GIVE THE VOTERS WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

THAT WAS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF CHANGING THE SYSTEM.

IT WAS SAID THAT OUR OLD SYSTEM WAS OUTDATED AND WE WANTED SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME, A RECEIPT.

GIVE THE VOTERS WHAT THEY WANT, A RECEIPT TO TAKE HOME.

>> MR. BELLE ISLE, I'M GOING TO POSE THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU AS I DID TO SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER, YOUR CAMPAIGN, ONE OF THE TOP POINTS IS TO DEFEAT VOTER FRAUD WHILE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE SAYS THERE WAS NO UNDER AGE VOTING, ZERO NONREGISTERED VOTERS, NO MORE THAN 74 CONVICTED FELONS THAT TRIED TO VOTE, AND FOUR DEAD PEOPLE VOTING IN THE ELECTION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR STAT THERE IS?

>> VERY CONVENIENT THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS COME UP WITH THOSE GREAT ANSWERS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE, RAFFENSPERGER HE CAME OUT TWO DAYS AFT ELECTION AND DECLARED THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS THE SAFEST, MOST SECURE ELECTION IN GEORGIA'S HISTORY.

ASSUMING FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT THAT THAT WAS INDEED TRUE THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN KNOW, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT I HAVE WITH SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER IS THAT HE HAS FAILED TO BE CURIOUS.

HE'S HAPPY TO THROW SOMETHING THROUGH THE AUDIT IN TERMS OF PUTTING THE SAME BALLOTS THROUGH AND GETTING THE SAME RESULT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT HE'S NEVER ONCE QUESTIONED HIS OWN RESULTS, AND EVERYONE HAS SEEN WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTION WHETHER IT BE THE DROP BOXES, THE POLICIES THAT WERE INCONSISTENTLY APPLIED, WHETHER IT WAS SENDING UNREQUESTED ABSENTEE BALLOT ELECTIONS, SIGNING A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WE HAVE SHIFTED THE BURDEN IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS, WHETHER INVALID OR VALID.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT HAVE BROUGHT TRUE QUESTIONS TO THE 2020 ELECTION.

THOSE ARE THINGS HE HAS FAILED TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND IF YOU LIKE, YOU CAN SAVE IT FOR LATER.

>> WE KEPT SIGNATURE MATCH IN 2020 ELECTIONS AND WE MADE SURE THAT WE COULD CHECK SIGNATURES, THE COUNTIES COULD WHEN YOU SEND IN YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT ELECTION AND WHEN YOU SENT BACK IN YOUR BALLOT, AND THE SIGNATURE MATCH REJECTION RATES ON SIGNATURE MATCHING ISSUES WERE 11% HIGHER IN THE YEAR 2020.

MANY STATES WERE BEING FACED BY MARK ELIAS LAWSUITS IN THE FAR LEFT ORGANIZATIONS, WE KEPT SIGNATURE MATCH IN 2020.

>> CAN I RESPOND.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE ON, I'M SORRY.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASK EACH OTHER QUESTIONS.

THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST ROUND OF DEBATES, THE CANDIDATES WILL ASK A QUESTION TO AN OPPONENT OF THEIR CHOICE.

EACH WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS TO ASK THE QUESTION, AND 60 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

THE CANDIDATE WHO ASKED WILL HAVE 30 SECONDS FOR A SECTION.

DAVID BELLE ISLE, YOU MAY ASK THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> MY QUESTION IS FOR JODY HICE, OTHER THAN VOTING AND EXPRESSING YOUR VOTING, WHAT IS YOUR POLITICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT?

>> I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THEM.

I'VE GOT FOUR BILLS HANGING IN MY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. JUST LAST MONTH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, WE -- I PERSONALLY BECAUSE OF A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE SAVED THE TAXPAYERS $49 BILLION.

THAT'S A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I'M AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS, THE MOST POWERFUL CONSERVATIVE VOICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

I MEAN, WE COULD GO DOWN A LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

MY BIG QUESTION IS WHY HAS BRAD RAFFENSPERGER ALLOWED THIS STATE TO BECOME THE MOST INSECURE STATE PERHAPS IN THE COUNTRY AS IT RELATES TO ELECTION INTEGRITY.

THAT IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I BELIEVE NEED TO BE ANSWERED AND DEMANDED ANSWERS BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

>> MR. BELLE ISLE, YOU HAVE A 30 SECOND REBUTTAL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE HEARD, AND I RESPECT MR. HICE, BUT HE'S MADE A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT THE FEDERALIZATION OF OUR ELECTIONS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH HR 1 AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME ACROSS WITH RESPECT TO THE FEDERAL SIDE AND WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS FOR MR. HICE TO STAY IN CONGRESS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT REPUBLICANS REGAIN THE MAJORITY AND DO HIS HAD WORK THERE, BUT THE ISSUE OF RUNNING A SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, WHICH TAKES EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY AND EXECUTIVE ABILITY AND EXECUTIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT, I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE ON STAGE THAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE TO BRING TO THIS OFFICE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BRAD RAFFENSPERGER YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION FOR AN OPPONENT.

>> I'D LIKE TO ASK JODY HICE A QUESTION BECAUSE HE'S FAILED GEORGIA.

HE SAT ON HIS HANDS AND DID NOTHING TO REFORM THE 1993 THASHL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT WHICH LIMITS STATES FROM CONDUCTING VOTERLESS MAINTENANCE 90 DAYS BEFORE A FEDERAL ELECTION, MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO LIST MAINTENANCE.

GEORGIA CONTINUES TO HAVE ONE OF THE CLEANEST VOTER LAWS IN THE COUNTRY, FOR ELIMINATING THIS BARRIER.

YOU HAD A MAJORITY IN CONGRESS.

HOUSE SENATE PRESIDENT, WHY DID YOU FAIL TO INTRODUCE ANY ELECTION REFORM LEGISLATION.

>> THAT'S A RIDICULOUS QUESTION.

YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF SAYS THAT THE TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER OF ELECTIONS ARE LEFT TO THE STATES NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST A FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN LEFT TO THE STATES.

WHY WOULD BRAD RAFFENSPERGER ALLOW OUR VOTER REGISTRATION FILES TO BE SO INACCURATE AS THEY ARE IS SOMETHING THAT RESTS 100% ON HIS SHOULDERS.

HE HAS LET DOWN THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

HE HAS DESTROYED ELECTION INTEGRITY IN THIS STATE.

HE HAS LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE VOTERS IN GEORGIA THAT WE WILL HAVE ONE LEGAL BALLOT CAST, AND ONE LEGAL BALLOT COUNTED.

IT IS SOLELY, 100% ON THE SHOULDERS OF BRAD RAFFENSPERGER AND IT IS FOR THAT REASON THAT HE OF ALL PEOPLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE INSTEAD THIS POSITION AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN RESTORE ELECTION INTEGRITY AND TO BUILD BACK THAT WHICH BRAD RAFFENSPERGER HAS DESTROYED.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER A 30-SECOND REBUTTAL.

>> JODY HICE DID NOTHING IN CONGRESS WHEN WE CONTROLLED THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE BUT HERE'S THE FACTS, GEORGIA'S RECOGNIZED NUMBER ONE FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY BY HERITAGE, AND ONE OF THE CLEANEST VOTER LISTS, YOU ARE LYING ABOUT THAT.

I'M THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE TO DO A CITIZENSHIP AUDIT OF OUR ENTIRE VOTER LIST, I BANNED BALLOT HARVESTING AND ABOUT OUR VOTING MACHINES, WE AUDIT ADD RACE, AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND AN ELECTION.

I'M THE FIRST TO PASS VOTER I.D.

FOR ALL FORMS OF VOTING IN GEORGIA.

>> TJ HUDSON, IT'S YOUR TURN TO QUESTION ONE OF YOUR OPPONENTS.

>> BRAD, PRIOR TO TAKING OFFICE AS SECRETARY OF STATE YOU DID NOT HAVE ANY ELECTION EXPERIENCE, ONCE IN OFFICE, YOU AS SECRETARY OF STATE OVERSAW THE LARGEST VOTER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION IN U.S. HISTORY.

WHY DID YOU PUT AN INDIVIDUAL NAMED GABRIEL STERLING WHO ALSO HAD NO ELECTION EXPERIENCE IN CHARGE OF IMPLEMENTING THIS SYSTEM AND AWARDING HIM A CONTRACT OF $200,000 TO DO SO?

>> WELL, T.J., AS A FORMER PROBATE JUDGE WHO RESIGNED IN DISGRACE, YOUR CAMPAIGN IS NOT BASED ON PERSONAL TRUTHFUL NKS, THE REAL ISSUE WE'RE FACING IN GEORGIA IS STACEY ABRAMS IS SUING US RIGHT NOW TODAY AS I SPEAK SO SHE CAN PUT NONCITIZENS ON THE VOTER ROLLS AND I'M THE ONLY ONE STOPPING HER.

>> YOU GET A RESPONSE.

>> AS A PROBATE JUDGE, I DID NOT LEAVE IN DISGRACE.

I DEAL IN FACTS, HERE ARE THE FACTS, PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW VOTING SYSTEM, GABRIEL STERLING WAS AN EMPLOYEE IN YOUR OFFICE.

HE RESIGNED AND YOU AWARDED HIM A NO BID CONTRACT, A FACT WHICH WAS NOT ONLY REPORTED IN AGC BUT CONFIRMED BY YOUR OWN DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE.

SHADY DEALS LIKE IT IS WHAT CAUSED VOTERS TO LOSE FAITH AND CONFIDENCE.

>> WE HAD THE FASTEST IMPLEMENTATION OF A VOTING SYSTEM IN AMERICA, THE FASTEST AND THE QUICKEST, AND WE ROLLED INTO A PANDEMIC AND AN ELECTION THERE.

AUDITS CAME OUT, NO FRAUD AND THE FUNDING WAS BANKED CORRECTLY.

>> JODY HICE YOU GET THE FINAL QUESTION.

>> BRAD WHAT AN ABSOLUTE JOKE FOR YOU TO SAY YOU OUTLAWED BALLOT HARVESTING, YOU CREATED BALLOT HARVESTING IN GEORGIA.

YOU SAID THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE ELECTION IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE BUT NOW WE ARE SEEING, WE ARE WATCHING THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF FOOTAGE OF BALLOT HARVESTING TAKING PLACE, 240 PLUS PEOPLE, OVER 5,600 BALLOT DROPOFFS, 40% OF WHICH TOOK PLACE BETWEEN MIDNIGHT, AND 5:00 A.M. SIX, ALMOST 7 MILLION UNSOLICITED BALLOT REQUESTS YOU SENT OUT OPENING THE DOOR FOR ALL OF THIS.

HERE'S MY QUESTION, DO YOU STILL STAND BY YOUR POSITION THAT THIS WAS THE SAFEST, MOST SECURE ELECTION IN GEORGIA'S HISTORY IN SPITE OF THE FACTS, IN SPITE OF THE FOOTAGE THAT WE ARE ALL WATCHING RIGHT NOW?

>> 60 SECONDS FOR YOU MR. RAFFENSPERGER.

>> WELL, JODY HICE SOMEHOW THINKS THAT BALLOT HARVESTING DOESN'T HAPPEN AT THE POST OFFICE WHICH HAS NO VIDEO SURVEILLANCE.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS OUTLAW BALLOT HARVESTING IN BILL 316 AND STOOD UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC GUARDRAILS BECAUSE STORAGE ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES WERE INCLUDED AND ALLOWED IN STATE LAW PREVIOUSLY.

WE MADE SURE THAT THE STATE ELECTION BOARD SET UP GUARDRAILS THAT THEY HAD TO BE ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, UNDER VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, AND STOOD UP AN ABSENTEE BALLOT FRAUD TASK FORCE.

INFORMATION HAS COME OVER A YEAR AFTER THE ELECTION, AND WE ARE INVESTIGATING.

WE HAVE HAD TO GO SO FAR AS TO SUBPOENA THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE WITNESSES AND THEY REFUSE TO TELL US WHO THEY ARE.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE, WHO THEY WERE PAID BY, AND FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL.

WE WILL PROSECUTE.

I'VE PROSECUTED MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

>> AND 30 SECONDS FOR YOU.

>> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.

BALLOT HARVESTING WAS CREATED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA BECAUSE OF BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

HE SENT OUT THESE ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUEST FORMS, VIRTUALLY NO VOTER REGISTRATION, INSTITUTES BALLOT DROPOFF BOXES AND WE WATCH ON THEIR CAMERAS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S CAMERA, THAT WHICH HE HAD FOR OVER A YEAR BUT ONLY NOW IS BEGINNING TO LOOK AT BALLOT HARVESTING TAKING PLACE BY THE TUNES OF THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS.

>> THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND AND FOR THOSE JUST JOINING US, THIS IS THE DEBATE BETWEEN REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE PANEL TO ASK QUESTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES OF THEIR CHOICE UNTIL THEY RUN OUT OF TIME.

AS A POINT OF MODERATOR PRIVILEGE, I MAY ASK A QUESTION OR TWO OF THE CANDIDATES.

I'LL DETERMINE WHEN A REBUTTAL IS APPROPRIATE.

HAILEY MASON, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION OF THE ROUND.

I'M GOING TO POSE THE QUESTION OF EACH ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, IF YOU WERE IN THE POSITION OF SECRETARY OF STATE IN THIS LAST ELECTION, I WOULD ASK HOW YOU WOULD HAVE HANDLED THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

LAST ELECTION WE SAW GEORGIA BECAME THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSY AS PRESIDENT TRUMP CLAIMED THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN DEBUNKED BY AUDITS AND HAND RECOUNTS IN GEORGIA.

IF THE CLAIM WAS TO SURFACE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE ELECTION AND YOU WERE ASKED TO REMAIN ALLEGIANT TO THE PARTY, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT SITUATION AS THE HEAD OF GEORGIA ELECTIONS.

I GUESS WE CAN START FROM YOUR RIGHT TO LEFT.

>> IS THAT MR. BELLE ISLE.

>> I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE OF THE QUESTION.

THE PREMISE OF THE QUESTION IS THAT WHILE THE ELECTION HAS BEEN PROVED TO BE ABSOLUTELY SOUND, BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THEY HAND EXAMINED THE BALLOTS TO MAKE SURE IT HAD THE RESULT, AND THAT COUNT, BRAD LOVES TO CITE THAT.

WHAT IT DOESN'T DO, THAT AUDIT DID NOT DO IS AUTHENTICATE THE VALIDITY OF THE BALLOTS.

ALL IT DID WAS RECORD THE RESULT.

TRUST IN AN ELECTION IS LIKE TRUST IN ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP.

WHEN YOU LOSE TRUST, IT'S VERY HARD TO GAIN IT BACK.

AND IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE TRUST THAT WE NEED FOR ELECTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO TO HAND MARKED PAPER BALLOTS LIKE 35 OTHER STATES WITH ELECTRONIC TABULATION.

WE NEED TO SECURITIZE OUR PAPER BALLOTS.

I BELIEVE WE NEED A PROCESS WHERE JUDGES CAN MAKE DECISIONS ON ELECTION LITIGATION PRIOR TO THE CERTIFICATION.

BUT ALL OF THESE ARE STEPS AS THE NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE THAT I WILL TAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE SECURE ELECTIONS BUT WE CAN WIN BACK THE TRUST THAT BRAD RAFFENSPERGER LOST TO THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA.

>> MR. HICE, 60 SECONDS TO YOU.

>> I THINK DAVID IS RIGHT ON.

IF YOU HAVE $100 OF COUNT IR FITE MONEY, AND YOU CONTINUE TO RECOUNT THEM, YOU MAY COME UP WITH THE SAME COUNT BUT THE FACT IS IT'S COUNTERFEIT MONEY.

BRAD RAFFENSPERGER NEVER LOOKED INTO THE VALIDITY OF THE VOTES, THE LEGALITY OF THE BALLOTS THAT WERE CAST, AND HAD I BEEN, ACCORDING TO THE QUESTION, HAD I BEEN IN THAT POSITION, NUMBER ONE, I WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE A DEAL WITH STACEY ABRAMS AND COMPANY TO BEGIN WITH.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER BROUGHT IN DROPOFF BOXES TO THIS STATE.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER OPENED WIDE THE DOOR FOR VOTER FRAUD TO OCCUR LIKE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER HAS DONE.

AND NOW HE WALKS AROUND BEATING HIMSELF ON THE CHEST AS THOUGH HE IS SOME CHAMPION OF VOTER INTEGRITY WHEN HE IS THE VERY ONE THAT HAS LOST VOTER INTEGRITY AND CONFIDENCE IN THIS STATE.

AND WE ARE AT A POINT IN OUR STATE RIGHT NOW THAT AT ALL COSTS, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IS ONE WHO WILL DEFEND AND PROTECT ELECTION INTEGRITY.

>> MR. HUDSON, 60 SECONDS TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, FIRST THING I WOULD HAVE DONE IS I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE RESOURCES TO THE LOCALS, INSTEAD OF HAVING A COMPANY FROM OUT WEST TO SEND OUT THE ABSENTEE APPLICATIONS, WHY NOT HELP THE LOCALS.

SECOND, OUR CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE WAS ABSENT.

WE HEARD FROM A STAFFER.

WE NEVER HEARD FROM OUR CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE.

HE WAS TOO BUSY GIVING INTERVIEWS ON CNN.

I'M SURPRISED HE'S EVEN HERE TODAY.

I WAS EXPECTING THAT SAME STAFFER TO SHOW UP.

HE HAS THIS ENERGY TODAY, WHERE WAS THAT ENERGY WHEN WE WERE ASKING FOR HELP.

LEADERSHIP STARTS AT THE TOP.

THERE'S A LOT OF LACK OF LEADERSHIP WITH OUR CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER TO YOU.

>> THE REAL PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE GETS DOWN TO BASIC HONESTY.

AFTER WE HAD THE FIRST ELECTION, THEY SAID THERE'S 66,000 UNDER AGE VOTERS, WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS 0.

THEY SAID THERE WAS THOUSANDS OF FELONS LESS THAN 40.

AND TALKED ABOUT STATE FARM ARENA, AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAND PICKED BOBBY CHRISTINE, U.S. ATTORNEY FROM THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT TO COME UP AND LOOK AT THAT.

HE'S DUH BUNKED IT.

THAT RUMOR LIVES A YEAR AND A HALF.

IT WAS TOTAL DISINFORMATION, MISINFORMATION, OUTRIGHT LYING, AND THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN DO ABOUT THAT.

JODY HICE HAS BEEN RUNNING FROM ONE ROOM TO THE NEXT, HOW CAN YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A RESPONSIBLE POSITION AS CONGRESSMAN, I WROTE HIM A TEN-PAGE LETTER, HE HAS YET TO RESPOND TO IT.

I CAN WALK TO WASHINGTON AND PUT MY HAND ON THE BIBLE AND I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PERJURY, HE COULDN'T DO THE SAME.

>> MR. HICE, 30 SECONDS TO REBUT.

>> THAT'S INACCURATE.

I HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINE OF THIS ISSUE IN WASHINGTON FIGHTING AGAINST THE FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF ELECTIONS FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW WHILE BRAD HAS BEEN GIVING OUR ELECTIONS OVER TO STACEY ABRAMS IS AND THE LIKE.

WE HAD A CONFERENCE CALL WITH BRAD, URGING HIM NOT TO SEND OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS TO EVERYONE ON OUR VOTER REGISTRATION FILE.

HE DID IT ANYWAYS.

THE DEAL WAS MADE WITH STACEY ABRAMS BEFORE THAT CALL EVER TOOK PLACE.

>> YOU CAN ANSWER THAT.

>> SENDING OUT THE BALLOT APPLICATIONS, THE LIBERAL GROUPS AND DEMOCRATS WERE GOING TO SEND THEM TO THEIR COUNTIES, AND REPUBLICAN COUNTIES WEREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

THAT WAS GOING TO TILT THE PLAYING FIELD.

WE SENT OUT TO FOR THE PRIMARY TO ACTIVE VOTERS.

THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME IT WAS DONE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GOT TREATED @SAME.

>> THIS IS A QUESTION FOR SECRETARY OF STATE RAFFENSPERGER.

YOU HAVE SAID THAT NONCITIZEN VOTING IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, PREVENTING IT EVEN THOUGH YOUR OWN OFFICE DID AN AUDIT FOUND THERE WAS NONCITIZEN VOTING.

YOU SAID THAT ELECTION SECURITY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

IF ELECTION SECURITY REALLY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, WHY HAVEN'T YOU READ THIS REPORT IN FEDERAL COURT THAT ALLEGES THAT VOTING MACHINES COULD POTENTIALLY BE HACKED?

>> I KNOW THAT OUR MACHINES, WE DID A 100% HAND RECOUNT BUT THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE FATING RIGHT NOW AS IT RELATES TO ELECTION SECURITY IS WHEN WE PASSED SV 202 THE FIRST THING WE HAD WERE NINE LAWSUITS FROM THIRD-PARTY LEFT WING GROUPS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

NOW THEY HAVE COMBINED THEIR FINANCIAL RESOURCES UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BANNER AND THEY'RE COMING AT US.

THE CLIENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, NOT WITH THE PEOPLE, THE TAXPAYERS, THE GEORGIA PEOPLE WATCHING THE SHOW TONIGHT, IT'S LEFT WING GROUPS, AND THEY WANT TO STRIP AWAY AND NOT HAVE PHOTO I.D.

FOR ABSENTEE VOTING, AND WE CAN HOLD FULTON COUNTY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

THIS NONSENSE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1993.

AND I'M THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE TO GET THEM UNDER CONSENT AGREEMENT, AND THE FIRST SECRETARY OF STATE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURE LIKE FLORIDA DOES WITH WAYWARD COUNTIES.

>> HAILEY, YOUR TURN TO ASK A QUESTION, PLEASE.

>> I'LL ASK THIS OF CONGRESSMAN HICE, AND SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER.

RESTORING VOTER CONFIDENCE LOOKS DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

HOW WILL YOU WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MOST POPULATED AREAS AND MOST RURAL AREAS ARE PROPERLY RESOURCED, TRAINED AND FIT TO MEET THE VOTING NEEDS OF THAT PARTICULAR AREA, NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACH.

>> MR. HICE, I THINK SHE SAID YOU FIRST.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION INTEGRITY, THE GROUND IS LEVEL WHETHER IT'S A POPULATED AREA OR NOT, AND TRAINING IS NEEDED IN ALL OF THOSE AREAS.

POLL WORKERS, POLL WATCHERS, THOSE WHO ARE MANAGING THE VARIOUS PRECINCTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LAW IS, THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED IN ALL OF THESE THINGS, HOW TO RUN THE EQUIPMENT AND SO FORTH.

SO OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A ROBUST BUDGET TO HELP ACCOMPLISH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

THE GREATER QUESTION TO ME COMES IN TO THE BROADER ISSUE OF VOTER ELECTION INTEGRITY AND THAT IS BY OPENING WIDE THE DOOR FOR EVERYTHING FROM DROPOFF BOXES TO SENDING OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS, HAVING VIRTUALLY NO VOTER IDENTIFICATION ASSOCIATED WITH THESE WITH ALLOWING BALLOT HARVESTING TO TAKE PLACE.

THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT UNDERMINE VOTER CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE HERE.

AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MUST BE CORRECTED THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DEALT WITH UNDER THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP OF BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER, 60 SECONDS TO YOU.

>> JODY HICE HAS BEEN RUNNING AROUND GEORGIA FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS LYING ABOUT OUR ELECTION PROCESS.

THAT'S WHAT DESTROYS CONFIDENCE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE AN ELECTION WHERE WE VERIFIED AND INVESTIGATED EVERY ALLEGATION AND HE CONTINUES TO STAND HERE TODAY AND LIE.

DROP BOXES WERE ALLOWED IN STATE LAW AND WE PUT BARRIERS AND GUARDRAILS TO MAKE SURE IT HAD TO BE ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY WITH PHOTO I.D.

AND SET UP A FRAUD TASK FORCE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN INVESTIGATE ANY ALLEGATION AND WE HAVE INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS.

IN FACT, RECENTLY WE RECEIVED A VIDEO ABOUT A MAN IN GWINETT COUNTY.

WE INVESTIGATED IT, AND THE FIVE BALLOTS HE TURNED IN WERE ALL HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> 30 SECONDS TO YOU MR., HICE, TO REPUTT.

>> BALLOT BOXES WERE NOT LEGAL UNTIL AFTER BRAD MADE THEM.

>> YOU HAVE TO READ THE CODE.

YOU HAVEN'T.

>> LISTEN -- >> IF YOU READ THE CODE -- >> DID WE HAVE THEM -- >> THE LIBERALS WERE GOING TO PUT THEM IN THEIR COUNTIES YOU KNOW, STATE LAW.

>> WE'VE NEVER HAD DROPOFF BOXES UNTIL BRAD RAFFENSPERGER -- WE HAVE NEVER SENT OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS.

>> THIS IS MY TIME, BRAD.

>> WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO ONE AT A TIME, PLEASE.

TAKE 20 SECONDS, MR. HICE.

>> WE HAVE NEVER HAD DROPOFF BOXES UNTIL BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

WE HAVE NEVER SENT OUT TO EVERYONE ON OUR VOTER REGISTRATION FILE UNSOLICITED ABSENTEE BALLOT REQUESTS UNTIL BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD BALLOT HARVESTING IN THIS STATE LIKE WE ARE NOW WATCHING ON TELEVISION FOOTAGE UNTIL BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

THAT IS THE FACT.

AND BRAD LOVES TO CALL ME A LIAR.

FACTS ARE THE FACTS AND HE HAS DESTROYED ELECTION INTEGRITY.

>> 20 SECONDS TO YOU MR. RAFFENSPERGER.

>> THE LIBERAL GROUPS ARE SENDING OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO ALL OF THEIR PARTY.

YOU WOULD HAVE HAD PEOPLE GETTING MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND THE COUNTIES HAD NO ONE IN THE OFFICES BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

BY SENDING OUT ONE APPLICATION TO ALL ACTIVE REGISTERED VOTERS, IT REUNIFIED THE PROCESS AND MADE SURE EVERYONE GOT TREATED THE SAME.

I FOLLOWED THE LAW AND I FOLLOWED THE CONSTITUTION.

>> THANK YOU, MARK NEESY, NEXT TO YOU.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

STACEY ABRAMS WAS NOT PART OF THE AGREEMENT, AND IT GAVE GUIDANCE THAT MORE THAN ONE ELECTION OFFICIAL REVIEW A MISMATCHED SIGNATURE BEFORE REJECTING THAT BALLOT, AND YET SIGNATURE MISMATCH RATES WERE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL IN 2018 AND 2020, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THOSE FACTS WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS SETTLEMENT WEAKENED ABSENTEE BALLOT VERSION.

>> -- VERIFICATION.

>> IT MADE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR IT TO TAKE PLACE.

YOU HAD TO EVENTUALLY NOTIFY THE VOTER THEMSELVES.

WHEN YOU HAVE NEARLY 7 MILLION OF THESE BALLOT DROPOFF BOXES, 1.4 MILLION ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, IT OVERWHELMED THE SYSTEM TO THE EXTENT THAT IT BECAME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO VERIFY THESE SIGNATURES IN ANY MEANINGFUL KIND OF WAY.

THE SYSTEM WAS OVERWHELMED AND COLLAPSED.

IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED BUT DID HAPPEN BECAUSE OF SOME VERY POOR DECISIONS BY MR. RAFFENSPERGER.

>> MARK, IF I MAY -- >> HE DIDN'T MENTION YOU, HE MENTIONED ME.

I'M GOING TO PICK THAT ONE UP BECAUSE RIGHT THERE I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE SIGNATURE MATCH REJECTION RATES WERE 0.18% IN 2018 AND 0.2%, 11% HIGHER IN 2020 FOR SIGNATURE MATCHING ISSUES.

THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS, AND ALSO THE COUNTIES DID NOT HAVE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE OFFICE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

THEY HAD A PROCESS, AND THEY KEPT SIGNATURE MATCHES AND WE GOT THE DEMOCRATS TO FORFEIT THAT RIGHT TO NEVER SUE AGAIN ON SIGNATURE MATCHING ISSUES FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020.

>> THIS IS A BIG ISSUE AND THIS HAS BEEN THE ISSUE OF THE ENTIRE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WHAT IT DID, MARK, WAS IT SHIFTED THE BURDEN, SEE IN PAST ELECTIONS YOU HAD ONE REGISTRAR AT A COUNTY, THEY WOULD REVIEW THAT ABSENTEE BALLOT, AND IF IT CHECKED OUT, IF THE SIGNATURE CHECK OUT, THE ADDRESS CHECKED OUT, THEY PUT IT IN THE ACCEPT FILE.

IN ORDER TO REJECT, THIS IS WHY HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A LAWSUIT DOES.

THE LAWSUIT WENT AWAY, BUT WHEN HE SIGNED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, IT SHIFTED THE BURDEN FROM THE SAME PERSON PUTTING IT IN THE ACCEPT PILE TO THE REJECT PILE, TO REQUIRE A THREE PERSON PANEL TO REJECT.

THE INFERENCE IF YOU DIDN'T GET TO A SINGLE BUSINESS DAY, IT HAD TO BE COUNTED.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER, WE HAVE TO GET ON TO OTHER ISSUES.

>> THE CURE PERIOD HE'S REFERRING TO WAS PUT IN LAW BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH HOUSE BILL 316.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING WE CAME UP WITH.

IT WAS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFTER THE FACT, BILL 316.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU COMING UP IN A SECOND.

DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?

>> ACTUALLY.

I'M THE ONLY ELECTION SUPERINTENDENT UP HERE, AND JODY IS RIGHT, THE BALLOT DROPOFF BOXES WAS SOMETHING THAT BRAD DID.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE DID.

DURING A PANDEMIC, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT WAS ON HIS WATCH.

>> OKAY.

LET'S MOVE ON.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ALL FOUR OF YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE GBI GIVEN AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE CLAIMS OF ELECTION IMPROPRIETY AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO WITH THAT AUTHORITY.

MR. BELLE ISLE.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A SECRETARY LIKE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, WHO REFUSES, EVEN WHEN THERE'S 177 PEOPLE WHO VOTED TWICE, WHEN HE REFUSES TO LEAD AND CHAMPION THE ENFORCEMENT OF OUR ELECTION LAWS, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE ENTITY TO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE IRREGULARITIES IN OUR ELECTIONS, SO BY HAVING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE TO HAVE THAT ABILITY AND THE GBI'S OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT ABILITY, THAT CREATES MORE CERTAINLY IN THE ELECTION PROCESS AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY AND PLEASED WITH THAT RESULT.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE GBI GETTING INVOLVED IN ELECTION INVESTIGATIONS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ON RECORD TO SAY THAT WE SUPPORT IT.

IF YOU LOOK IN THE 2020 RACE, WE HAD TO LEAN INTO THE GBI TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE HAS TWO PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATIONS, IT'S NEVER BEEN ENOUGH BUT THAT'S WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FUNDED US WITH.

WE LEANED INTO RESOURCES, TWO MAN TEAM, ONE GBI AGENT, ONE OF OUR INVESTIGATORS TO GET THROUGH THE SIGNATURE MATCH AUDIT QUICKLY, AND THE STATE FARM ARENA, WE CALLED THE GBI, AND FBI.

AND BOBBY CHRISTINE, HAND PICKED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP TO LOOK AT THE STATE FARM ARENA.

WE LIKE MORE EYEBALLS ON A SITUATION THAT HELPS GET THE INVESTIGATION DONE QUICKER.

>> MR. HUDSON, THE QUESTION TO YOU.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE GOOD THING HAVING THE GBI INVOLVED.

LEADERSHIP ARE SET TO TALK LIKE I SAID EARLIER.

IF WE HAD A SECRETARY OF STATE THAT KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE OFFICE, DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF BEING ABSENT.

HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT SIGNATURE MATCHES.

ELECTION SUPERVISORS ACROSS THE STATE ARE NOT SIGNATURE EXPERTS.

SO STOP WITH THIS SIGNATURE MATCHES.

WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE'S SIGNATURE CHANGES OVER TIME.

HAVING THE GBI, THAT'S A GREAT THING.

>> MR. HICE.

>> THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE HAS GREAT INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY, WHEN BRAD RAFFENSPERGER CHOSE NOT TO USE EFFECTIVELY AND NOW AS A RESULT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS RECOGNIZED WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE SOMEONE DOING INVESTIGATIONS INTO VOTER FRAUD.

I'M PLEASED THAT THE GBI IS ASSUMING THE ROLE.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE DOING SO BECAUSE LEADERSHIP AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE REFUSED TO DO HIS JOB, AND SO WITH THAT, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA WE'VE GOT TO HAVE INVESTIGATIONS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE JOB DONE WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH GBI TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SECURE ELECTIONS AND PROSECUTE INDIVIDUALS WITH PROPER INVESTIGATIONS WHO VIOLATE OUR ELECTION LAWS.

>> OKAY.

WE NEED TO MOVE IT ALONG.

AND HAILEY MASON, YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION IN THIS ROUND.

>> THIS WILL BE POSED TO EACH CANDIDATE.

THERE ARE NEW EFFORTS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO COMPLETELY DO AWAY WITH BALLOT DROP BOXES AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

THAT WOULD SHIFT THE WAY COUNTIES HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO HAVE ONE DROP BOX PER 100,000 PEOPLE.

IF YOU WERE IN OFFICE AS SECRETARY OF STATE, HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITH EACH COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT ACCESS IS STILL OPEN EVEN IF THESE LEGISLATIVE MEASURES PASS THIS NEXT SESSION.

>> WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO START WITH IS THIS.

>> SECRETARY RAFFENSPERGER CAN BEGIN WITH THIS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE MISSING THE POINT WITH THE DROP BOXES BECAUSE YOU CAN USE THE POSTAL SERVICE.

THE CHALLENGE WE NEED TO HAVE, AND I HAVE SAID THIS FOR OVER TWO YEARS, WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING WHICH WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2005.

PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE BODIED SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AND AHEAD AND VOTE.

WE HAVE 18 DAYS OF VOTING IN PERSON.

SENIORS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE DISABILITIES, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

THAT REDUCES THE THRESHOLD, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE VOTING ABSENTEE.

THAT HELPS SECURE THE CONFIDENCE IN THAT.

ALSO WE HAVE PASSED PHOTO I.D.

FOR ALL FORMS OF VOTING.

WE HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM SIGNATURE MATCH, WHICH IS SOMETHING I ASKED FOR FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE.

>> MR. HICE, THE QUESTION TO YOU.

>> I SUPPORT DOING AWAY WITH THE DROPOFF BOXES.

THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY, AND NOW THAT THEY ARE INSIDE THE PRECINCT VOTING PLACES AND ONLY AVAILABLE DURING VOTING HOURS, IF A PERSON THAT HAS TO DRIVE TO THE PRECINCT, GET OUT OF THE CAR, WALK INSIDE, THEY JUST AS WELL VOTE.

THEY'RE THERE.

THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO CONTINUE HAVING THESE DROPOFF BOXES.

WITH THAT, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD REQUIRE TRAINING CERTAIN WORKERS TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE BEFORE WE HAD DROPOFF BOXES.

BEFORE WE HAD THIS DISASTROUS ADDITION THAT OPENS UP WIDE POTENTIAL FOR VOTER FRAUD.

LET'S ELIMINATE VOTER FRAUD.

LET'S ELIMINATE DOORS AND CRACKS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR VOTER FRAUD AND ONE OF THOSE IS DROPOFF BOXES SO I TOTALLY SUPPORT DOING AWAY WITH THEM.

AND WHATEVER TRAINING IS NECESSARY FOR THOSE WORKERS OBVIOUSLY THEY WOULD NEED TO BE TRAINING TO GO BACK TO RUNNING ELECTIONS WITHOUT THE DROPOFF BOXES.

>> MR. HUDSON, QUESTION TO YOU.

>> I HAVE HEARD FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS FOR DROPOFF BOXES AND AGAINST.

I'VE NEVER USED A BALLOT DROPOFF BOX.

I THINK WE IN THE UNITED STATES, IF I ALWAYS HAD A DROPOFF BOX, AND IT'S CALLED THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE, BUT IN METRO, I UNDERSTAND.

IT MAKE THE PROCESS EASIER, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE MONITORED.

THEY CAN'T BE IN RANDOM LOTIONS.

IT'S ABOUT HAVING SECURE ELECTIONS.

SINCE IT'S IN THE LAW, WE HAVE TO GO BY THE LAW, AND ENFORCE IT.

MAKING SURE THAT EVERY BALLOT THAT'S COUNTED IS LEGAL.

>> MR. BELLE ISLE, THE QUESTION TO YOU, PLEASE.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER WAS CLEARLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT POST OFFICE BOXES, THE BLUE ONES AND THE ONE AT THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY DO IN FACT EXIST.

WITH COVID, YOU KNOW, THE EMERGENCY POWERS THAT HE EXERTED IN ORDER TO AUTHORIZE THE DROP BOXES THAT WERE NOW SUCH A BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WAS BASICALLY ON COVID, SO THE IDEA IS THAT BECAUSE OF COVID, YOU SHOULD HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE, GO INTO A CROWDED AREA, INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, AND TOUCH A DROP BOX THAT HAD BEEN TOUCHED BY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, RATHER THAN GOING TO THE DROP BOX AT THE END OF YOUR DRIVEWAY OR AT THE END OF YOUR STREET, AND SO THE PROCESS IS THAT LOOK, WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE ELECTIONS SECURE.

THE THING ABOUT A DROP BOX, THERE'S NO RECORD OF ANYONE BEING THERE, YOU'VE GOT THE SURVEILLANCE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE APPLIED BUT EACH COIN DID IT INCONSISTENTLY.

SOME WAS MOTION CENSORED.

SOME WAS JUST RUNNING AND VERY FEW COUNTIES MAINTAINED THAT INFORMATION.

>>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER YOU WERE NAMED THERE, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE 20 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

>> THE REAL ISSUE WE HAVE GOING FORWARD IS THE COURT CASE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT STACEY ABRAMS IS TRYING TO STOP CITIZENSHIP VERSION.

WHEN YOU HAVE NONCITIZENS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING FOR NONCITIZEN VOTING.

YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT IN OTHER STATES LIKE MAINE AND MARYLAND, AND THAT'S THEIR PUSH AND THE OTHER BIG PUSH IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS TRYING TO STOP US FROM IMPLEMENTING AND PUSHING BACK ON SENATE BILL 202.

WHICH HAS PHOTO I.D.

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

>> MARK, NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU, PLEASE.

>> HERE'S A QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY.

I'VE HEARD IN PARTICULAR CONGRESSMAN HICE SAY THAT INSTEAD OF CERTIFYING THE ELECTION, HE WOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED IT MORE BUT STATE LAW REQUIRES THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS THAT ARE GIVEN TO HIM OR HER.

WOULD YOU UPHOLD GEORGIA LAW IF YOU WERE ELECTED AND CERTIFY AN ELECTION, EVEN IF YOU HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT ITS VERACITY.

>> WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO START.

>> WITH CONGRESSMAN HICE.

>> OF COURSE I WILL UPHOLD THE LAW.

THE LAST ELECTION SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED WITHOUT PROPER INVESTIGATION.

THE ALLEGATIONS WERE TREMENDOUS.

THEY WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND THEY STILL ARE, AND YET TO THIS DAY, AS YOU REFERENCED, SOMEONE REFERENCED A WHILE AGO, A 25,000 WORD REPORT ISN'T EVEN READ YET ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT TOOK PLACE.

THIS LAST -- I WOULD NOT HAVE CERTIFIED THIS LAST ELECTION AS IT WAS WITHOUT PROPER INVESTIGATION AND GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT WAS AN AUTHENTIC ELECTION RESULT.

THAT WAS NOT DONE, AND AS A RESULT, WE STILL HAVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF GEORGIANS WHO HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE WAS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A CERTIFICATION OF AN ELECTION THAT WAS PREMATURE BASED UPON THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ALLEGATIONS OF VOTER FRAUD THAT TOOK PLACE.

>> AND 60 SECONDS TO YOU MR. BELLE ISLE.

>> THE QUESTION WAS WOULD YOU UPHOLD THE LAW.

>> ONCE UPON A TIME WHEN MY WIFE WAS IN LABOR, I WENT 400 MILES PER HOUR, PROBABLY PASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION, BUT THERE ARE TIMES IN WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES DICTATE A PARTICULAR COURSE OF ACTION, AND THE FACT THAT RAFFENSPERGER CONTINUED TO STICK HIS HEAD IN THE SAND AND REJECT THAT THEY WERE THERE, THOSE FACTS HE REJECTED IN TERMS OF IT BEING THE FAIREST MOST SECURE ELECTION, THAT IS THE TIME FOR HIM TO HAVE ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVES, TO HAVE GOTTEN, RATHER THAN JUMPING TO A CONCLUSION THAT SELF-SERVED, TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES AND GET TO THE BOTTOM, WHETHER IT'S FULTON COUNTY ALONE, YOU HAVE 103% OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS REGISTERED TO VOTE.

TWO EDITORS, THE FULTON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTORS, AND THE OTHER IS THE MAN MY LEFT, THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> JODY HICE HAS BEEN LYING FOR 18 MONTHS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FIRST ONE WAS BUT HE PUT OUT ON TWITTER HE SAW A FORENSIC EXAMINATION SAID THAT THE MACHINES WERE FLIPPING VOTES.

IT WAS DISPROVEN.

HE TOOK DOWN HIS TWITTER FEED.

HE DOESN'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT.

AND CERTIFIED THE RESULT OF HIS OWN ELECTION EVEN THE DEMOCRAT ONES, YET HE DID NOT CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAME MACHINES, SAME BALLOTS, AND SAME VOTERS.

HE LOVED THE MACHINES UNTIL HE DIDN'T.

HE KEEPS FLIP-FLOPPING ON THE ISSUES.

THE REALITY IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT MORE VOTES ON THOSE DOMINION MACHINES THAN ANYONE ELSE GOT JODY HICE HAS NOT BEEN HONEST FOR 18 MONTHS, AND HAS BEEN SPREADING DISINFORMATION, AND THAT'S WHAT DESTROYS VOTER CONFIDENCE.

EVERY ALLEGATION I CHECKED OU.

RAN IT TO THE END OF THE LINE.

THAT'S WHAT ENGINEERS DO.

WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FACTS.

THE FACT IS 28,000 GEORGIANS SKIPPED THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, AND YET THEY VOTED DOWN BALLOT, AND THAT'S WHY PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME UP SHORT.

>> 30 SECONDS TO YOU MR. HICE.

>> THIS IS PRECISELY WHY SO MANY PEOPLE THINK BRAD RAFFENSPERGER REALLY IS A DEMOCRAT.

ALL HE EVER DOES IS WHEN HE IS BACKED IN A CORNER, HE STARTS THROWING ACCUSATIONS TO OTHER PEOPLE.

HE'S DONE NOTHING BUT ACCUSE ME OF BEING A LIAR SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS DO WHEN THEY GET IN TROUBLE IS START THROWING OTHER PEOPLE UNDER THE BUS WITH FALSE ACCUSATIONS.

LOOK, BRAD RAFFENSPERGER IS 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LACK OF ELECTION INTEGRITY WE HAVE IN THIS STATE DUE TO THE ENORMOUSLY -- >> TIME.

>> PITIFUL DECISIONS THAT HE MADE.

>> THAT'S OUR TIME.

MR. HUDSON, 60 SECONDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GIVE ME THE QUESTION AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

>> WILL YOU UP HOLD STATE LAW IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.

>> I WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LAW.

THAT'S WHAT I'M KNOWN FOR.

CHECK MY TRACK RECORD.

I'M ABOUT THE LAW.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOT TO THAT POINT.

BRAD JUST DIDN'T DO HIS JOB.

YOU HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

HE DIDN'T HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE.

HE HAS TO DO HIS JOB.

THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING, AND HE'S ALWAYS THROWING OUT THAT HE HAS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, AN ENGINEERING DEGREE.

HE DOESN'T HAVE ELECTION EXPERIENCE.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT HAS ELECTION EXPERIENCE.

WE'VE SEEN HOW BRAD RUNS ELECTIONS.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

>> WE'LL NEED TO MOVE ON.

HAILEY MASON, THE NEXT QUESTION TO YOU.

>> THIS IS A GOOD SEGUE, ALTHOUGH THE ELECTION IS PARTISAN, THE LAW IS LARGELY BASED IN DATA, FACTS AND IMPLEMENTING THE LAW.

DO YOU BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT PARTY AFFILIATION SHOULD INFLUENCE THE DECISIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, AND I'LL LET EACH ONE OF YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION STARTING WITH MR. BELLE ISLE.

>> WELL, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COUNTING VOTES, AND IT SHOULD BE, IN AN IDEAL WORLD, YOU WOULD HAVE REPUBLICANS WANT TO COUNT VOTES AND DEMOCRATS WANT TO COUNT VOTES AND THAT WOULD BE IT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHAT WE SEE IN THE DEMOCRAT AGENDA IS PUSHING FORWARD A PROCESS THAT MAKES IT VAGUER AND VAGUER AND LESS CERTAIN.

THEY WERE PUSHING FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO BE SENT TO EVERYONE ON THE VOTER LIST IF R YEARS.

BRAD IS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THEIR DREAM AND MADE IT COME TRUE.

THE REASON BEING IS THAT CREATED UNCERTAINTY, WHAT I SAID BEFORE ABOUT FULTON COUNTY HAVING 103% OF THEIR ELIGIBLE VOTERS REGISTERED TO VOTE.

THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T SEND UNREQUESTED BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO THE ENTIRE LIST.

SO YES, IT SHOULD BE THE SAME BUT IT'S NOT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SECURE ELECTIONS.

I KNOW ONE THING THE DEMOCRATS THROW AROUND QUITE A BIT IS VOTER SUPPRESSION.

USUALLY IN THE TERMS OF VOTER SUPPRESSION, IT'S VOTER SUPPRESSION TO REQUIRE A PHOTO I.D.

OR MAKE SURE ELECTIONS ARE SECURE.

IT'S VOTER SUPPRESSION WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTIONS AND PEOPLE DON'T VOTE.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE ISSUE IS NOT WHO WINS AN ELECTION.

THE ISSUE IS WAS IT A FAIR ELECTION.

AND THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN THROWN INTO QUESTION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

MY CANDIDATE MAY LOSE AN ELECTION.

BUT IF I KNOW IT'S FAIR, IF I KNOW WE CAN GO BACK AND THE PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL FOR ALL, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE LEGAL BALLOT CAST, ONE LEGAL BALLOT COUNTED, THEN I CAN RALLY THE TROOPS, AND WE CAN GO BACK, AND WE CAN TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

BUT WHEN THE SCALES ARE TILTED, WHEN THE PROCESS IS NOT FAIR, AND IS NOT INVESTIGATED AND WHEN THOSE WHO VIOLATE OUR LAWS ARE NOT PROSECUTED, IT RAISES ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS THAT MUST NOT ONLY BE ANSWERED, BUT MUST BE CORRECTED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHO WILL DO THE JOB TO SECURE ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE.

>> MR. HUDSON, QUESTION TO YOU, 60 SECONDS.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRATIC THING.

IT'S A RIGHT THING.

PARTY AFFILIATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

SITTING ON A BENCH, I NEVER LOOKED AT A PERSON WHO CAME IN FRONT OF ME, AND WONDERED WHETHER THEY WERE A REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

I ALWAYS DONE WHAT WAS RIGHT, AND IF YOU DO THAT, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.

LIKE I SAID, BRAD HAS NOT DONE THAT.

IT'S A LACK OF LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP.

WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.

I'M HERE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

CLEARLY THIS GUY IS NOT.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER, QUESTION TO YOU, 60 SECONDS.

>> THIS JOB REQUIRES SOMEONE TO FOLLOW THE LAW, WALK THAT LINE OF INTEGRITY.

THERE'S RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, I BACK THE BLUE, THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE LAW TO DO THEIR JOB, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT ALSO I'M GOING IT MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE BOUNDARIES OF ACCESSIBILITY.

80% OF ALL GEORGIANS BELIEVE THAT ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOULD BE VOTING IN OUR ELECTIONS AND 80% OF ALL GEORGIANS BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE PHOTO I.D.

THOSE ARE GREAT MEASURES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE.

THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, IS FROM THE FAR LEFT ELEMENT, THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN EITHER ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS, AND THEY ALSO NOW ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE AND STOP US AND THAT'S WHAT STACEY ABRAMS IS DOING WITH FAIR FIGHT, TO STOP CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION SO NONCITIZENS CAN BE ALLOWED TO BE PUT ON THE VOTING ROLLS.

WE FOUND 1634 PEOPLE, AND FORWARDED THAT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR PROSECUTION.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE VOTING IN THE ELECTION.

>> WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION FROM MARK.

>> WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF DRIVER SERVICES DID NOT HAVE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS OR SO.

THEY TURNED OFF WHEN THEY DID CHANGE THEIR WEB SITE, AND SO VOTERS WERE STILL ABLE TO REGISTER BUT IT WASN'T AUTOMATIC.

THERE WASN'T A DEFAULT OPTION TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

AMONG PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT MORE VOTING, FOR THOSE WHO WANT SKURLT IT ENSURES YOUR NAME AND INFORMATION MATCHES WHAT'S ON YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

FOR EACH OF YOU DO YOU SUPPORT CONTINUING AUTOMATIC VOTING REGISTRATION IN GEORGIA?

>> 30 SECONDS APIECE BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

MR. HUDSON, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

>> AUTOMATIC, NO, I DID NOT.

I THINK THEY SHOULD GO IN AND ACTUALLY HAVE TO -- BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW.

VOTING IS YOUR RIGHT.

BUT IT'S ALSO A PRIVILEGE.

BUT IN THAT IS RESPONSIBILITY.

AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE SURE IF YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED, YOU LET THE VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE KNOW.

I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THAT.

>> MR. RAFFENSPERGER.

>> THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE, PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASKED THE QUESTION, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REGISTER OR NOT.

AND THEY RESPOND YES OR NO.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE UPDATE WE SHOULD HAVE, AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHOULD PASS THAT THE NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY QUESTION.

>> 30 SECONDS MR. BELLE ISLE.

>> IT'S LIKE HAVING AN OPEN CREDIT COURT, IT SHOULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

WHEN YOU REGISTER TO VOTE, YOU ALSO ARE PROBABLY LIKELY TO TAKE THE EFFORT TO ACTUALLY GO TO THE ACTUAL POLLS AND VOTE, BUT OTHER, WITH THE LEADERSHIP THAT RAFFENSPERGER HAS PROVIDED, IN TERMS OF VOTER ISSUES, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ALLOWING BALLOT HARVESTING AND PERHAPS BALLOT TRAFFICKING BY HAVING ESSENTIALLY AN OPEN CREDIT CARD AND SOMEONE WHO'S REGISTERED TO VOTE WHO NEVER INTENDS TO ACTUALLY VOTE.

>> AND 30 SECONDS TO JODY HICE.

>> THANK YOU, ONE OF THE PROUDEST DAYS OF MY LIFE WAS GOING TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

I FELT LIKE I WAS TAKING ON MY RESPONSIBILITY AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND I WAS PROUD AND HONORED TO DO SO, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THE WAY IT STILL OUGHT TO BE THESE DAYS, THAT PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE, THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, AND THEIR PRIVILEGE AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND AS A CITIZEN OF THIS STATE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND VOTE.

I BELIEVE THEY OUGHT TO TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY UPON THEMSELVES RATHER THAN AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE THAT.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS.

EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

TJ HUDSON, YOU GET THE FIRST CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> GEORGIA HAS NEVER HAD A SECRETARY OF STATE THAT HAS ELECTION EXPERIENCE.

I THINK OUR CHIEF ELECTION OFFICIAL IN THIS STATE SHOULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF ELECTION EXPERIENCE.

I'VE DONE IT.

EVERYTHING FROM PAPER BALLOTS TO THE SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW.

THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE ONLY BEEN CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT.

I HAVE ACTUALLY RAN ELECTIONS.

GEORGIA, YOU HAVE A CHOICE AND THE CHOICE IS CLEAR, A VOTE FOR TJ HUDSON IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR FUTURE.

WHY IS THAT?

I'M GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.

I'M GOING TO HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE.

YOU HAVE SEEN HOW ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN RUN.

IF YOU VOTE FOR TJ HUDSON, YOU WILL SEE HOW ELECTIONS WILL BE RUN THE RIGHT WAY.

IF EXPERIENCE MATTERS, HERE'S A TAIL OF THE TAPE, CONGRESSMAN RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE WITH NO ELECTION EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE A FORMER MAYOR RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE WITH NO ELECTION EXPERIENCE, AND THEN YOU HAVE BRAD, AND YOU HAVE SEEN HOW HE RUNS ELECTIONS.

GEORGIA VOTERS, I NEED YOUR HELP, I NEED YOU TO RIDE WITH TJ HUDSON AS YOUR NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> DAVID BELLE ISLE, YOU MAY NOW GIVE YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> NOW, THANKS TO RAFFENSPERGER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS NO LONGER A VOTING MEMBER ON THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

YOU HAVE 159 COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS THAT ALL ANSWER TO THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

YOU HAVE THE LEGISLATURE THAT MAKES THE LAW, THE KOURPTS THAT INTERPRET IT, YET THE NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE WILL HAVE THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER.

THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THAT WORK IS NOT A MATTER OF OPINION, IT'S A MATTER OF LEADERSHIP.

AS MAYOR OF ALPHARETTA, WE TOOK AN 85 ACRE FAILED PROJECT AND TURNED IT INTO AVALON.

WE GREW OUR CORE INDUSTRY FROM 300 COMPANIES TO 700 COMPANIES.

WE CREATED A CONFERENCE CENTER WITH TO LIABILITY TO THE CITY, A TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR FOR TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY UP COMPANIES, THIS IS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP BEING ABLE TO LEAD OTHERS VOLUNTARILY TO GET THINGS DONE IS THE ONLY WAY THAT OFFICE IS GOING TO WORK.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN UNTAP THE POTENTIAL OF THAT OFFICE.

I'M RUNNING TO DEFEAT VOTER FRAUD AND CHAMPION GEORGIA JOBS.

I'M THE ONLY ONE WITH THE EXPERIENCE TO GET IT DONE.

>> JODY HICE, PLEASE GIVE YOUR CLOSING STATEMENT SGLS THANK YOU TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

GEORGIANS HAVE BEEN HORRIFIED BY WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS PAST ELECTION.

THEY HAVE WATCHED WITH HORROR AS ELECTION INTEGRITY HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

AND EVEN NOW, THE AGC IS REPORTING IN A POLL THAT ONLY 23% OF GEORGIANS ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS NEXT ELECTION UNDER BRAD RAFFENSPERGER WILL BE SECURE AND FAIR.

LOOK, WE ARE A CONCERN, POLITICALLY SPEAKING, THAT OPERATES UNDER THE CONCEPT OF THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED AND IF EVER THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED IS VIOLATED OR COMPROMISED AT THE BALLOT BOX, THEN WE ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE AS A NATION.

WE WATCHED THAT COMPROMISE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, AND NOW IS THE TIME TO CHANGE.

I'M JODY HICE RUNNING TO BE YOUR NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE.

I ASK FOR YOUR HELP, FOR YOUR VOTE, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

VISIT JODYHICE AND JOIN THE TEAM.

THANK YOU.

>> JODY HAS DONE NOTHING WHILE IN CONGRESS FOR SEVEN YEARS.

ELECTION SECURITY HAS BEEN MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY SINCE DAY ONE.

AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOULD VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

AND I WAS THE FIRST TO CALL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT SO ONLY AMERICAN CITIZENS VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS, THE FIRST TO DO A CITIZENSHIP AUDIT TO MAKE SURE ONLY AMERICANS ARE REGISTERED.

I IMPLEMENTED VERIFIABLE PAPER BALLOTS IN RECORD TIME, AUDITED A STATEWIDE ELECTION, AND NOW WE HAVE PASSED PHOTO I.D.

FOR ALL FORMS OF VOTING IN GEORGIA, AND WE'RE CROSS CHECKING OUR REGISTRATION WITH MANY OTHER SOUTHEASTERN STATES SO WE CAN VERIFY WHEN PEOPLE MOVE OR GET ON OUR VOTER ROLLS.

HERITAGE HAS RECOGNIZED GEORGIA NUMBER ONE ELECTION INTEGRITY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE IN THE MAY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR DEBATE.

WE'D LIKE TO REMIND VOTERS THAT ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 24th.

EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY NOW.

OUR THANKS TO OUR CANDIDATES, TO OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS, MARK NEESY, HAILEY MASON, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB FOR ARRANGING THE DEBATE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE DEBATES THEY HOST THIS ELECTION SEASON, VISIT ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.ORG.

THEY ARE ARCHIVED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

YOU CAN GO BACK AND REFERENCE THEM ALL THE WAY UP TO ELECTION DAY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY EASY TO ASK CRITICAL QUESTIONS AT TIMES LIKE THIS.

I'M ALSO REMINDED THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW HIGHER CALLS TO PUBLIC SERVICE THAN RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENT.

I'M SCOTT SLATE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG SERIES, SO LONG FOR YOU.

NOW.

NOW.