No, Officials Can't Block Certification of Results

Thursday, September 05, 2024

There isn't one weird trick to steal a presidential election. And there are ample safeguards to ensure ballots are tabulated accurately and election results are certified in a timely manner.

Posted by et_al at 02:32 PM | 29 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

Informative article. Won't slow down the "chicken littles."

#1 | Posted by et_al at 2024-09-04 01:54 PM

It won't be for the lack of trying by the Sh*tler lackeys in the swing states.

I predict a lot of lawfare by Dotard after the election resulting in violence by the Proud Boofs and Gravy Seals.

Sh*tler is not going to stop, what the hell is another indictment for inciting violence?

... No, officials can't block certification of results ...

Does that mean they will not try?

Perhaps blockage is not their aim, but causing delay and confusion is.

Also... the article cites Courts as our protection against denial of certification at a time when Courts are become in many cases more political than judicial.

" Won't slow down the "chicken littles."

After SCOTUS's decision on immunity?!?

Shouldn't.

You mean Katherine Harris was just following the law in 2000 when she certified the results for Florida? Wowwww.

@#6 ... You mean Katherine Harris was just following the law in 2000 when she certified the results for Florida? Wowwww. ...

(11/14) Harris' Announces Certified Results
www.presidency.ucsb.edu

...Tuesday, November 14, 2000

Following is the transcript of Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris's announcement of the certified vote recounts in the Florida presidential election.

HARRIS: Good evening. I'm going to read a brief statement, but please understand, on the advice of our legal counsel, I won't be answering any questions this evening.

First of all, I'd like to thank all of the independently elected supervisors of elections, their staff, their volunteers for the extraordinary work they performed over the past seven days. And they've just been terrific.

And I'd also like to acknowledge the overwhelming support that we have received as we've worked to fulfill our statutory responsibilities in ensuring a consistent, accurate and independent process.

As of 5 p.m. today, the director of the Division of Elections reported receiving certified returns from all 67 counties, as required by law. In the race for the president of the United States, these certified results from Florida's 67 counties for the top two candidates are as follows. Governor George Bush: 2,910,492. Vice President Al Gore: 2,910,192.

The usual practice of the state Elections Canvassing Commission is to certify these returns as soon as the compilations are completed by the division's staff. However, in three Florida counties--Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties--these counties may be contemplating amended returns based upon manual recounts not completed as of today's statutory deadline.

Within the past hour, the director of the Division of Elections faxed a memorandum to the supervisors of elections in these three Florida counties.

In accordance with today's court ruling confirming my discretion in these matters, I'm requiring a written statement of the facts and circumstances that would cause these counties to believe that a change should be made before the final certification of the state-wide vote. This written statement is due in our office by 2 p.m. tomorrow. ...

Also... the article cites Courts as our protection against denial of certification at a time when Courts are become in many cases more political than judicial.

Perhaps you misapprehend what "ministerial obligation" means. If the required act of an official is ministerial then a court considering the officials' refusal to act has no discretion but to order the official to perform the act.

Anyway, its interesting the issue has suddenly popped onto the radar. Two more articles with the same theme.

www.npr.org

thedispatch.com

@#8

Many thanks for the citations.

But, I still hold the opinion that the aim is not to deny certification, but to introduce confusion and delay.

For example, it officials refuse to certify, then what happens?

Court cases ensue t make them certify.

Delay and confusion.

Delay and confusion.

Seems you may also misapprehend "ministerial obligation." Any such case would be resolved with a certain outcome- do it - and very quickly because of tight certification deadlines. This is why election officials aren't really concerned about certification. What comes next, election contests and the other bulls**t, will be of concern.

@#10 ... Seems you may also misapprehend "ministerial obligation." ...

Possibly. (Likely? :) )

Many thanks for the follow-up comment.

... Any such case would be resolved with a certain outcome- do it - and very quickly because of tight certification deadlines. ...

What happens if those certification deadlines are missed?

... This is why election officials aren't really concerned about certification. ...

That may be so for election officials who follow th rule of law, but when have MAGA-cult officials ever been concerned about following the rule of law?

The latter is my concern.

That is, not what law-abiding election officials would do, but what the MAGA-cult election officials will try to do.

#2 | Posted by Nixon

What lawyers are left that will take up these efforts? Trump's last group of flunkies are now mostly disbarred and/or facing prison.

#8 | Posted by et_al

And we have seen officials still refuse to act which throws wrenches and delays into the system. And MANY are still in office: The Guardian

As far as that goes, I would not be surprised to see an activist judge or several find a way to avoid ordering the elected official to act. Whether that is through coercion or not. When I say that note I am not saying it needs to be a valid legal reason just they will make stuff up to serve their purpose until an appeal. It would likely mean throwing their career away unless the GOP does come to power but...