Historically considered a ministerial duty, vote certification has recently become a central battleground in U.S. elections. Once a routine process, the certification of election results is now mired in controversy and political maneuvering. In several states, local and state election officials have transitioned from neutral overseers to political advocates, creating new rules that make it easier to allege fraud and harder to resolve these allegations.
An investigation by Rolling Stone identified at least 70 Trump supporters currently working as county election officials who have "questioned the validity of elections or delayed or refused to certify results" in key swing states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. By refusing to certify election results, these local election officials could delay a state from reporting its results, thereby disrupting the election process and undermining public confidence in the outcome.
Georgia is emerging as a focal point in the fight over vote certification. The Georgia State Election Board recently passed two new rules that could delay and even prevent vote certification:
The "Reasonable Inquiry Rule": This rule stipulates that a county board can only certify an election "after reasonable inquiry that the tabulation and canvassing of the election are complete and accurate and that the results are a true and accurate accounting of all votes cast in that election."
The "Examination Rule": This rule allows individual county election board members to "examine all election-related documentation created during the conduct of elections prior to certification of results."
The Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Party of Georgia have since sued to block the implementation of these new rules, arguing that they could lead to "chaos" around election results.
The stakes are high, as election results will need to be certified in more than 3,000 counties across the country, and all state results must be finalized by the time electors meet in each state on December 17.
What was once a straightforward, administrative task has become a flashpoint for political conflict. The actions of local and state election officials, particularly in swing states like Georgia, will be closely watched as they navigate the complex and contentious landscape of vote certify.
The potential for disruption is significant, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the integrity and stability of our democracy.