Georgia First Public Comments

Georgia State Election Board

February 25, 2025

Transcript of Full Comments: Natalie Crawford, Founder & Executive Director

Public Comments for State Election Board agenda item VI. Old Business, a. Discussion of True The Vote litigation, potential action of withdrawal of the subpoena and dismissal of the petition and lawsuit.

Good morning, Chairman Fervier and members of the Georgia State Election Board.

My name is Natalie Crawford, and I am the Founder and Executive Director of Georgia First, a nonprofit 501c4 think tank and advocacy organization. Additionally, I am a lifelong Republican and former county commissioner, duly elected twice by the voters of Habersham County. I speak today to strongly oppose any effort by this board or any of its individual members to withdraw its subpoena and dismiss its legal action against True The Vote.

To dismiss this case now would send a dangerous message—that election deniers can spread falsehoods, refuse to provide evidence, and evade accountability without consequence. True The Vote made serious allegations about the integrity of Georgia’s elections, allegations that have been thoroughly debunked and for which they have failed, time and time again, to provide a shred of credible evidence. This organization falsely claimed that a vast ballot trafficking scheme occurred in our state. When pressed to prove their claims, they refused to cooperate. When subpoenaed for records, they stonewalled investigators, using legal procedures to argue procedural deficiencies. This is not the behavior of an organization acting in good faith—it is the behavior of a group intent on undermining public trust in our elections through lies and deception.

The damage done by True The Vote, during the 2020 election cycle, to this state, her people, and individual election officials who were significantly impacted due to falsehoods and conspiracy theories by True The Vote, which then contributed heavily to the now widely debunked “2000 Mules” film, cannot be quantified.

The people of Georgia deserve better. Georgia election officials—Republicans and Democrats alike—have affirmed that our elections were secure, fair, and free from widespread fraud. Our courts have rejected baseless lawsuits attempting to overturn results. Yet, organizations like True The Vote continue to sow doubt, feeding conspiracy theories that led directly to threats against election workers, legislative efforts to restrict voting rights, and a decline in public confidence in the democratic process.

Let’s be clear about what dismissing this lawsuit would mean: it would embolden those who seek to destabilize our elections with deliberate misinformation. It would allow an out-of-state organization with a well-documented history of election disinformation to avoid answering for the harm they have caused to our democratic institutions. It would tell the people of Georgia that lying about elections carries no consequence—that you can make false accusations, refuse to cooperate with lawful investigations, and simply walk away without accountability.

I urge this board to stand firm in its commitment to election integrity by enforcing its subpoena and continuing this legal action. We must demand transparency and accountability from those who seek to erode trust in our elections. Anything less would be a failure to protect the integrity of our democratic system.

Transcript of Full Comments: Shannon Morris Ferguson, Sr. Policy Analyst & Strategic Communications Director

Chairman Fervier and members of the Georgia State Election Board:

I am Shannon Ferguson, Sr. Policy Analyst and Strategic Communications Director for Georgia First, a nonprofit 501c4 think tank and advocacy organization. With 25 years in public sector communications, including teaching Georgia’s elected officials on public engagement and social media, I continue to have deep concerns about Dr. Johnston’s unauthorized creation and continued use of the Twitter/X account originally opened on behalf of this board.

This was done without discussion, approval, or oversight—an unacceptable breach of professionalism and transparency. While she has since changed the account handle, it does not erase the fact that she acted beyond her authority by establishing the account and positioning herself as a spokesperson.

As political appointees, neither Dr. Johnston, as the Georgia GOP appointee nor Ms. Gazal as the Democratic appointee for that matter, would ever be an appropriate board spokesperson, given who appointed them. Not to mention, the role of spokesperson belongs to the Chairman and the Executive Director, acting in concert with official board proceedings.
As someone who opened one of the first-ever state agency social media accounts in 2010, and helped develop early state policies on social media use, I can say with certainty that official state accounts must speak with one voice, provide factual, nonpartisan information, not serve as personal platforms for unvetted allegations, inflammatory rhetoric, or board grievances.

Dr. Johnston’s continued use of this account, including her recent February 5 posts, has eroded trust in this board and our election processes. There’s an expression in communications—you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. Changing the account username did not put the toothpaste back in the tube.

I urge Dr. Johnston to uphold the duty and care expected of a public servant and call on her to close this account. Once again, Georgia First reminds all board members that you are here to serve ALL eligible Georgia voters—not just those who align with your personal views, political party, or preferred candidate. Thank you.