CHRISTOPHER MORA v. BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
Date FiledAugust 18, 2026
DocketA27A0071
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia
ATLANTA,____________________
August 18, 2026
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
A27A0071. CHRISTOPHER MORA et al. v. BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, IN
HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE
STATE OF GEORGIA.
A27A0072. BRAD RAFFENSPERGER, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS
SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA v. GREG
DOLEZAL et al.
The Superior Court of Fulton County dismissed a petition for mandamus and
injunctive relief that was filed by Christopher Mora, Keli Gambrell, and Greg Dolezal
against Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The petitioners sought to compel
Raffensperger to allow their designated poll watchers and members of the State
Elections Board to observe certain activities of the Secretary of State’s office on
election day, and they argued that his refusal to allow such access was a violation of,
inter alia, OCGA § 21-2-408.1
Based on our initial review, it appears that these cases may fall within the
Supreme Court’s “exclusive appellate jurisdiction over ‘[a]ll cases of election
contest.’”2 As the Supreme Court has recognized, “the boundaries of [that] Court’s
‘election contest’ jurisdiction” have not be expressly delineated, though the phrase
has been defined to include, at a minimum, “challenges to the candidates for and results
1
This provision was amended by the Election Integrity Act of 2021, through
which the General Assembly “comprehensively revised the Elections Code.” See
Williams v. Powell, 320 Ga. 221, 222 n.4 (908 SE2d 599) (2024).
2
Cook v. Bd. of Registrars, 291 Ga. 67, 68 (2) (a) (1) (727 SE2d 478) (2012)
(quoting Ga. Const. of 1983, Art. VI, Sec. VI, Par. II (2)).
of elections” as well as “voter-based challenges to a specific election[.]”3 Further, the
Supreme Court has the ultimate responsibility for determining appellate jurisdiction.4
Accordingly, these appeals are hereby TRANSFERRED to the Supreme Court for
disposition.
Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
08/18/2026
I certify that the above is a true extract from
the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Witness my signature and the seal of said court
hereto affixed the day and year last above written.
, Clerk.
3
Cook, 291 Ga. at 69-74(2)(a).
4
See Saxton v. Coastal Dialysis & Med. Clinic, 267 Ga. 177, 178 (476 SE2d 587)
(1996).