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.

The case was brought by Julie Adams, a member of the Fulton County Board of Elections, who declined to certify some primary results last year. The court ruled that Adams did not have the authority to withhold certification and that state law mandates a uniform process for certifying elections.

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.

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

The lieutenant governor of Georgia, Burt Jones, is hoping to make his title easier to spell next year with a run for governor.

Georgia Republican Burt Jones has officially entered the 2026 governor’s race. He highlighted his ties to Donald Trump and pledged to eliminate the state income tax in a campaign video released Tuesday.

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.

Early voting in now underway in a runoff election for a seat on the state public service commission

Jones says he will eliminate state income tax and end fentanyl overdoses in Georgia. Democrats accuse his failed leadership for other issues.

The New Georgia Project helped shape Democratic politics in Georgia over the past decade, buoyed by support from party stars like Stacey Abrams and Raphael Warnock and a mission to register tens of thousands of left-leaning voters who often skip elections.

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.