ATLANTA - Certification of election results in Georgia is a mandatory duty of local elections officials - not a discretionary decision - the state Court of Appeals has ruled.

A Georgia appeals court has upheld a ruling requiring county election officials to certify results by legal deadlines.

Georgia’s Court of Appeals has upheld a ruling that election officials cannot refuse to certify election results, regardless of concerns about potential misconduct. The decision affirms an earlier ruling by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney,

Georgia’s state Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court’s ruling in a 2024 election case, affirming that local election board members must certify election results by the deadline outlined in state law.

While local elections officials are empowered to request and review documents and share concern, they cannot refuse to certify election results, judge says.

In Clayton County, drop box locations include the Election & Registration Main Office, South Clayton Recreation Center, and Carl Rhodenizer Recreation Center. See below for hours and voting polling locations. Monday, July 7-Friday, July 11 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Early voting for the Georgia Public Service Commission Democratic primary runoff is underway for one week until July 11. Some counties closed precincts because of low turnout.

The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that election board members are required to certify election results even when they have concerns about fraud or errors.

Georgia’s Court of Appeals ruled local officials must certify election results, rejecting a GOP lawsuit and limiting the State Election Board’s rulemaking power.