ANN ARBOR, Mich. − Key election officials from critical swing states have stated that they are ready to take legal action against local governments if they refuse to certify the results of the 2024 presidential election. This move could complicate attempts to challenge the election outcome, especially if former President Donald Trump is not victorious.

Officials from Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin expressed these views during interviews with YSL News and at a public event at the University of Michigan on Thursday. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

“We would promptly sue to compel certification, and we’re confident that Pennsylvania law is straightforward enough that courts would quickly require counties to certify their voting results,” said Al Schmidt, the Secretary of State for Pennsylvania.

In battleground states, and particularly in those where Vice President Kamala Harris hopes to win to secure enough Electoral College votes, county officials have delayed or rejected the certification of election results over thirty times since 2020. This has included everything from presidential elections to local school board recounts.

This situation is a continuation of the tactics used by Trump and his supporters to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election. If local officials decline to certify their counties’ results in 2024, their goal may be to prevent the electoral votes from going to Congress.

Despite past instances where delays in certification did not alter election outcomes, they have raised concerns among experts about what could occur if defiant county officials succeed when the certification process for the presidential election starts on November 6. Nonetheless, key election officials remain prepared.

‘The State Will Take Action’

Schmidt, a Republican who opposed efforts to overturn the 2020 election during his time as a local official in Philadelphia, highlighted that the state successfully sued three counties to ensure they certified the 2022 primary election results.

“Having addressed such issues in the past, we’re now prepared if this situation arises again,” he stated.

Arizona’s election director, Lisa Marra, who is nonpartisan and works for Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, echoed this sentiment, promising a similar approach from Arizona if a county refuses to certify.

<p“The state would sue to compel them to count the votes,” Marra indicated. “If they still refuse, we would pursue further legal action, allowing the state to go ahead without those results.”

Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan head of the Wisconsin Election Commission, did not specify the legal methods that would be employed to enforce the certification but mentioned that discussions have occurred about the authority of involved parties.

“I am very confident that if we face a scenario requiring a court order for someone to fulfill their mandatory duties, we can resolve that efficiently,” she asserted.

Earlier this year, Nevada’s attorney general and secretary of state, both Democrats, took legal action against a county that refused to certify local election results. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford expressed his willingness to partner with the Secretary of State to defend the integrity of Nevada’s elections.

Alternative Measures?

Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Secretary of State and a Republican, mentioned to YSL News that engaging with counties that refuse to certify may not always be necessary. However, he emphasized, “Ultimately, we will ensure that every county adheres to the law and respects the Constitution.”

In Michigan, Jonathan Brater, the director of elections, noted that the state has the authority to certify an election if a county board of canvassers opts not to. He added that a disapproval of certification would not prevent an eventual certification but would only result in “wasting resources and time” for the state to undertake the process again.

Karen Brinson Bell, the nonpartisan executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, referred to the oath that members of county boards.

According to election laws, officials are required to validate an election unless there’s credible evidence suggesting misconduct.

“There must be concrete evidence and valid grounds,” she stated in an interview with YSL News.

In 2023, the North Carolina State Board of Elections dismissed two individuals from the Surry County Board of Elections for not certifying an election as a form of protest against state election regulations. “This is not a valid excuse to overturn or refuse to certify an election,” remarked Brinson Bell. “A complaint was lodged, and the State Board reviewed it, leading to the removal of both individuals.”