Officials in key battleground states are preparing to take legal action against any counties that attempt to disrupt or delay the certification of election results this year. This follows incidents in the 2022 midterm elections where some counties in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico either failed to certify results or did so incompletely.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes warned that counties that do not certify elections will face serious consequences. He stated, “If you don’t certify an election at the county level, or certify a canvas, you’re going to get indicted,” and emphasized that his office has sent stern warnings to relevant officials.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson echoed these concerns, revealing that her team has prepared draft legal filings to sue any counties that refuse to certify results. Benson stressed the importance of being ready to respond quickly to ensure adherence to election laws.
During the last presidential election, efforts were made to pressure officials into not certifying results, exemplified by former President Trump’s intervention with members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers in Michigan.
In Georgia, Gabriel Sterling, the COO of the state’s Secretary of State office, reassured attendees at a recent event that the legal framework is in place to prevent any county from holding up the certification process. He affirmed, “There are those who think they can magically hold up everything by one county… That is not going to happen, and the courts won’t allow for that.”
With these preparations underway, election officials are emphasizing the necessity of following the law to ensure a smooth and fair electoral process.