A Georgia judge ruled that county election officials must certify election results by the legal deadline, regardless of any suspicions of fraud or error. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney stated that no election superintendent or board member has the discretion to refuse certification, emphasizing that such actions would silence voters and violate both the U.S. Constitution and state election laws. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit from Republican election board member Julie Adams, who abstained from certifying a primary election due to alleged access issues with election documents. McBurney clarified that while officials can inspect election conduct, any delays in obtaining information do not justify refusing to certify results. This decision is significant as it reinforces the mandatory nature of election certification amid ongoing concerns about election integrity in the wake of the 2020 election. The ruling arrives just as early voting begins for the upcoming November elections in Georgia.