Georgia judge rules election officials can’t delay certification because of fraud concerns

Georgia elections officials are required to certify results by the state law deadline, a judge ruled, stating they cannot delay certification due to fraud concerns. The ruling came in a case filed by a Republican election board member who argued for leeway in certification. The judge emphasized that superintendents can investigate miscounts but not fraud, which should be left to law enforcement. The ruling can be appealed, and other challenges in the state are ongoing. Democrats welcomed the ruling as a protection of election integrity. The judge is also presiding over a challenge to new election rules that could impact certification timing.