Today, LDF sent a letter to county election officials in Florida who are responsible for certifying elections regarding their duties to certify the results of the November 2024 general election under Florida state law. The letter provides guidance to county officials that certification is mandatory under state law, that there are avenues available under state law independent of certification to resolve discrepancies with the election returns, and that there are consequences for not certifying. The letter asks officials to commit to their duty under state law to certify the election.
In light of recent attempts by some election officials across the country to delay or withhold certification, as well as outside groups inappropriately weighing in on this duty, it is critically important at this time that county election officials affirm their duty to certify the results of the upcoming election based on the votes cast and no other external factors, as required by Florida law.
Read the full letter here.
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Legal Defense Fund (LDF) – Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.