In the immediate aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, at least 17 county election officials across six swing states attempted to prevent certification of county vote totals, many citing unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in an attempt to justify their actions. This widespread effort to block certification in 2020 was unprecedented. Though the attempts failed across the board, contested certifications can potentially sabotage democratic elections around the United States. Interference with certification now threatens to recur in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election.
Authors
- Pages
- 5
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- COMMENTARY 1
- Norman Eisen Clare Boone and Samara Angel 1
- October 1 2024 1
- In 2022 at least 22 county election officials voted to delay certification in key battleground statesa nearly 30 increase from 2020. 1
- At least 35 current county election officials have a track record of voting against certification according to a recent report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. 1
- Although certification sabotage has not yet resulted in such an extensive delay there have been many attempts which if they were to succeed could inject turmoil into the post-election period. 1
- AUTHORS 4
- For example in Cochise County Arizona a majority of the board initially refused to certify the 2022 general election results delaying certification until a court ordered them to certify the votes. 4
- In Pennsylvania the secretary of state is known as the secretary of the commonwealth. 4
- There are a few exceptions In Nevada the largest counties have seven- member boards and in some small counties in Wisconsin and Georgia the election board is comprised of a single official. 5
- The exceptions are Pennsylvaniaʼs seven home-rule counties LAllegheny Delaware Erie Lackawanna Lehigh Luzerne and Northampton which can alter their county-level election governance structures. 5
- In Nevada the county clerk also serves on the election board. 5
- 10. 5
