"Swing State Election Officials Plan Legal Action Against Counties Refusing to Certify 2024 Results"

 

Top election officials in key swing states have expressed their readiness to take legal action against local governments that refuse to certify the 2024 presidential election results, a potential tactic aimed at preventing efforts to overturn the outcome if former President Donald Trump loses.

Officials from Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin emphasized their commitment during interviews with USA TODAY and a public event at the University of Michigan. They reassured the public that they would protect the integrity of the election process by swiftly addressing any attempts to block certification.

Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, a Republican, stated that the state would "immediately take them to court" if counties refused to certify their results. Schmidt pointed out Pennsylvania’s clear election laws and past experience forcing non-compliant counties to certify election outcomes.

Since the 2020 election, there have been instances where county officials in battleground states voted against or delayed certification, ranging from presidential elections to local school board recounts. This growing trend stems from former President Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. In 2024, a refusal to certify could prevent Vice President Kamala Harris’ electoral votes from being sent to Congress, potentially disrupting the election process.

Arizona's elections director, Lisa Marra, confirmed a similar stance, emphasizing that the state would sue counties that fail to certify. Marra also noted that if a county refuses to act even after a court order, the state could proceed without their results.

In Wisconsin, the state's top election official, Meagan Wolfe, voiced confidence that the courts would quickly resolve any legal disputes over certification. Similar actions have already been taken in other states, including Nevada, where officials successfully sued a county earlier this year over its refusal to certify.

Other officials, like Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Michigan’s elections director Jonathan Brater, echoed their determination to ensure compliance with election laws. In Michigan, the state has the authority to step in and certify results if local officials refuse.

This proactive stance reflects growing concerns over potential challenges to the 2024 election, but officials remain firm in their resolve to protect the democratic process and ensure that election results are certified as required by law.