Judge in Georgia orders county election officials to certify results

Georgia Judge Rules County Election Officials Must Certify Results By Deadline
In a recent ruling, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney made it clear that county election officials in Georgia must certify election results by the deadline set in the law and cannot exclude any group of votes from certification even if they suspect error or fraud. The ruling comes as early voting began in Georgia.
Georgia law requires county election superintendents to certify results by 5 p.m. on the Monday after an election, or the Tuesday if Monday is a holiday as it was this year. This ruling is significant as certification of election results has become a highly politicized issue in the wake of former President Trump’s attempts to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 general election.
Julie Adams, a Republican member of the Fulton County election board, argued that her duties as a board member were discretionary and that she is entitled to full access to election materials. Her suit, backed by the America First Policy Institute, aimed to give county election board members the discretion to reject certification.
However, Judge McBurney’s ruling clearly states that county election officials do not have the authority to determine fraud or decide what should be done about it. They are required to certify results by the deadline set in the law, regardless of any concerns they may have about fraud or systemic error. This ruling aims to ensure the integrity of the election process and prevent delays in certifying election results.

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