Gov. Kemp Appoints Retired U.S. Judge Duffey To Lead State Election Board

GEORGIA — Former U.S. District Judge William Duffey will become the chairman of the State Election Board, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday.

Duffey will fill the seat that has been left vacant for more than a year since Georgia’s voting law removed Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

"I have dedicated my career to serving others to seek fair and just results in legal matters," Duffey said in a statement. "Our democracy is founded on citizens participating in the process to elect those who govern them. I am committed to working with my colleagues on the State Elections Board to perform our duty to protect the integrity of the election process because every Georgia voter is entitled to know their vote is secure and that it counts."

Duffey, who was appointed to the federal bench by Republican President Georgia W. Bush in 2004, served as a judge in the Northern District of Georgia until his retirement in 2018. Before becoming a judge, Duffey was the U.S. attorney in the Atlanta-based district

"Judge Duffey has been involved in complex litigation for decades, both as a lawyer and a judge," Kemp said in a statement. "Through his vast experience, he has established himself as a man of integrity who will uphold the highest ethical standards in his application of the laws of our state and nation. I am confident Judge Duffey will be a great asset to our state and help ensure our elections are secure, accessible, and fair."

Georgia’s voting law, Senate Bill 202, removed Raffensperger from the State Election Board after the 2020 elections. A successor was never nominated; the chairperson is required to be nonpartisan.

Learn more about Judge William Duffey here.

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