#DavidHancock, an #election official in Gwinnett County, just outside #Atlanta, is at the center of the #certification refusal movement in his state.

"At this moment there are NO guidelines on what is required to #certify an election in #Georgia," Hancock wrote on his FB page in late May. "But some of us are working to change that. Stand by."

"I think we are going to see mass refusals to #certify the #election" in November, says #Democratic election #lawyer @marcelias. "Everything we are seeing about this election is that the other side is more organized, more ruthless, & more prepared."

#Certification of #election results is what #legal experts consider a "ministerial task," & one required by state & local #law. But as #Trump's #lies about the #2020election have taken hold, #Republicans nationwide have decided that certification provides them an opportunity to hear fraud allegations - & refuse to officially count their local #votes. Republicans have refused to #certify election results at least 25 times since Trump lost the 2020 election to President Joe #Biden.

In the swing states of #Arizona, #Georgia, #Michigan, #Nevada, #NorthCarolina, & #Pennsylvania, Rolling Stone & American Doom identified at least 70 pro-#Trump election #conspiracists currently working as county #ElectionOfficials who have questioned the validity of elections or delayed or refused to #certify results. At least 22 of these county #election officials have refused or delayed #certification in recent years.

When #election night comes in November, it will be up to thousands of local #ElectionOfficials to #certify election results in their counties. Among those election ofcls are scores of #Trump supporters who believe his #lies & #ConspiracyTheories about stolen elections - & will be in prime position to act on those beliefs to try to [illegally] aid his campaign in November.