(The Center Square) – Georgia State Election Board member Janice Johnston resigned from the board on Thursday, citing personal reasons.
Johnston, who was appointed by the Georgia Republican Party in 2022, said she would not quit fighting for election integrity.
“Serving on this board in the years following one of the most scrutinized and debated elections in our state’s history was both challenging and meaningful,” Johnston said. “Questions raised by citizens deserved attention. And the concerns expressed by the voters deserved to be heard.”
Board Chairman John Fervier, who often clashed with Johnston, said she probably spent more time than anyone preparing for the meetings.
“I told her a long time ago, she and I want to get to the same place,” Fervier said. “We sometimes differ on how to get there. But we both believe in fair and honest elections with integrity.”
Johnston was the subject of a 2024 lawsuit by American Oversight, which identifies itself as an independent watchdog, over access to records in Johnston’s Gmail account.
The Election Board paid $50,000 to settle the lawsuit in November 2025.
Board member Salleigh Grubbs started a GoFundMe account to raise money for Johnston’s defense. The campaign raised $30,000. Grubbs was not a member of the board when she raised the funds but was appointed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in January.
Johnston said she had no control over the fundraiser.
“So I have the hopes to either return all of that to the donors or contribute it to a lawfare defense fund,” Johnston said at the time.
The same organization accused Johnston, Grubbs and board member Janelle King of violating Georgia’s Open Meetings Act in April after they filed an amicus brief in the federal government’s lawsuit against Fulton County. The FBI raided the Fulton County Elections Office in January, seizing records related to the 2020 election.
The FBI said in the warrant that it wanted all physical ballots, including envelopes, damaged ballots, advanced voting ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls, according to the warrant filed in U.S. District Court.
Johnston was serving as vice-chairman but asked Fervier to appoint someone else at Wednesday’s board meeting. King was named to the post.