Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is issuing a stern warning to election officials and poll workers across the state, urging them to avoid placing bets on political races. This caution comes amid a massive surge in the popularity of prediction market apps like Polymarket and Kalshi, which have seen hundreds of millions of dollars poured into bids on upcoming midterm contests. Speaking in a recent interview with FOX 5, Raffensperger told those involved in the electoral process to stay completely clear of these platforms to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
The situation presents a complicated legal gray area for Georgia authorities. While gambling on elections is generally classified as a misdemeanor under state law, Raffensperger admitted there is currently no explicit statute preventing election staff from betting on races they help manage, provided they do not interfere with the actual results. Furthermore, because many of these new platforms operate as federally regulated financial exchanges rather than traditional sportsbooks, they often bypass state gaming laws and taxes entirely.
Despite the lack of a specific ban, the Georgia State Elections Director has issued formal guidance reminding county leaders that government employees are prohibited from profiting off their official positions. Raffensperger emphasized that while current law might be vague, betting on one’s own managed outcome is simply bad practice and undermines public trust in the democratic process. He expressed his desire for the General Assembly to eventually pass tighter legislation that would explicitly bar all poll workers and state election staff from participating in political betting markets.
This move follows similar crackdowns at the federal level where platform operators have begun policing their own users to maintain integrity. For instance, Kalshi recently banned and fined a congressional candidate from North Carolina who attempted to bet on her own race. As Election Day approaches, Georgia officials remain focused on maintaining neutrality and transparency even as high stakes financial speculation becomes a mainstream part of modern campaigning.
