This article highlights the rising politicization of the election certification process, where some local officials are increasingly inclined to defy their legal obligation to certify election results, citing alleged irregularities or mistrust in the process.
Former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric has intensified this issue, with repeated claims that U.S. elections are susceptible to cheating.
Since 2020, at least 30 election officials across key swing states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona, have sought to delay or deny certification, according to a report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington CREW.
Legal experts stress that the certification process is intended as a ministerial step in which officials affirm that earlier canvassing and audits have verified the vote count.
Certification is not a stage for re-evaluating the legitimacy of votes but rather a confirmation that all necessary verification processes are complete. Courts have consistently intervened to compel officials to fulfill this duty when they attempt to disrupt certification.
For instance, Georgia recently reinforced this obligation through a judicial directive mandating that election results be certified without exception. Similarly, in North Carolina, two officials were dismissed in 2022 for refusing to certify election results.
Experts warn that while courts are likely to block these certification challenges, the attempts alone can undermine public trust in the electoral process. As Sean Morales-Doyle from the Brennan Center for Justice points out, the impact on public confidence could be lasting, fueling distrust regardless of legal rulings.
Some officials, like Michael Clark in Nevada and Peggy Judd in Arizona, cite concerns about voter roll management or potential fraud, but they ultimately reversed course or faced legal consequences.
Efforts to delay or deny certification may not succeed in altering results but can play into a broader narrative questioning election integrity, amplifying skepticism among the public.