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

Elections officials in Georgia have to certify results by the date required in state law, a judge ruled Monday, saying they have no discretion to delay certification because of fraud concerns or other potential issues that may arise as votes are being counted. 

Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney wrote in an order Monday that "election superintendents in Georgia have a mandatory fixed obligation to certify election results" by Nov. 12.

The ruling came in a case filed by Julie Adams, a Republican member of the Fulton County election board, who argued election board members had leeway around certification. She wrote in her complaint that she would be "unable to fulfill her oath of office" if not empowered to investigate for fraud.