Georgia Election Board Member Violated Conduct Code by Attending Trump Rally

Atlanta, GA – An Inspector General’s report has found that a high‑ranking member of the Georgia State Election Board violated the board’s code of conduct by attending a Donald Trump campaign rally — raising questions about impartiality and ethics for officials charged with overseeing elections. The report names Vice Chair Janice Johnston as having violated the board’s conduct standards by attending a Trump rally in August 2024 where former President Trump publicly praised her and two other board members.

During the event, Trump singled out the board’s Republican majority — which has pushed contentious rule changes and election practices — and lauded them as “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory.”

Investigators concluded that Johnston’s presence at a partisan political event creates an appearance of conflict with the nonpartisan responsibilities expected of election officials. The report noted a lack of ethics training provided to board members and said that other political actions by board members (like political contributions or involvement in partisan events) could also raise conflict concerns.

Johnston defended her attendance, saying she was a private citizen who accepted a text invitation and had never attended a campaign rally before. Supporters argue that attending as a private citizen should not disqualify her, while critics say election board members must avoid political appearances that could undermine public confidence in election neutrality.

This finding comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Georgia State Election Board, which has been mired in disputes over election rule changes and authority. The board recently saw a tied vote on proposed changes to voting equipment requirements — highlighting deep partisan divisions.

Critics argue that officials entangled in political rallies and partisan rhetoric risk blurring the line between election administration and political advocacy, potentially eroding voter trust just months ahead of key statewide elections.

Election officials are often required to document and report political activity that could affect their duties, participate in ethics or nonpartisanship training, and avoid using official positions to gain political recognition.