Fulton County Judge McBurney Rules Officials Must Certify Election Results Despite Fraud Suspicions

Oct 15, 2024, 04:07 PM

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled on Tuesday that county election officials in Georgia must certify election results and cannot delay or refuse certification, even if they suspect fraud or errors. The judge declared that the duty of election superintendents to certify results is 'ministerial' and that no election superintendent or member of a board of elections may refuse to certify or abstain from certifying election results under any circumstances. Concerns of fraud or abuse are to be settled in court, not by county officials acting unilaterally. This ruling, ahead of the November 5 election, is seen as a defeat for Trump allies and election deniers, and a victory for voters and democracy. The decision clarifies that certification is mandatory under Georgia law, reinforcing that election superintendents have a mandatory fixed obligation to certify election results.