Election Skeptics Are Targeting Voting Officials With Ads That Suggest They Don’t Have to Certify Results

A new group called Follow the Law has been running ads in legal publications targeting attorneys, judges, and election administrators, suggesting that election officials have the discretion to delay or refuse to certify election results. The ads, which have been placed in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia, mischaracterize election rules and direct readers to a website with incomplete and inaccurate information about certification processes. Election experts and state officials have warned that the group's messaging is misleading and could lead to chaos in the transition of power. Follow the Law is led by Melody Clarke, a conservative activist with ties to the Election Integrity Network, which has been involved in efforts to challenge election results. The group's activities are part of a broader push by Trump-aligned groups to leverage election mechanics to their advantage. Since Trump lost the 2020 election, at least 35 election board members have tried to refuse to certify election results, and experts warn that more could do so in the 2024 election. Follow the Law's ads and website overstate officials' roles beyond what statutes allow, according to state officials in several states. The group's messaging also underplays the existing checks and balances in the election system. Election experts are calling for officials to remind election administrators of their legal duty to certify election results, which is a mandatory and democratic duty. The activities of Follow the Law and similar groups have raised concerns about the potential for election deniers to disrupt the democratic process.