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Politics
Derek T. Muller, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame

No, local election officials can’t block certification of results – there are plenty of legal safeguards

A sign at a rally as the Board of State Canvassers voted on Nov. 23, 2020, to certify the 2020 election in Okemos, Mich. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP/Getty Images

Some local election officials have refused to certify election results in the past few years. Georgia has new administrative rules that invite election officials to investigate results before certifying. And worries abound that election officials might subvert the results of the 2024 presidential election by refusing to certify the results.

While states may have different names or processes, certifying an election typically looks something like this: On election night, the local precincts close, and local election workers tabulate the vote; they affirm or attest that the precinct results are the proper tabulation and send those results to the county.

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