Judge rejects Moore’s effort to block Alabama election result

A judge on Thursday rejected Roy Moore’s attempt to block the certification of his Democratic rival Doug Jones as the winner of the Alabama Senate election earlier this month, according to The Associated Press. 

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Moore’s lawyers filed a suit with the court late Wednesday to stop the state canvassing board from declaring Jones the winner of the race, claiming widespread voter irregularities. 

Moore’s team said there should be an investigation into possible voter fraud and an eventual second election. 

Montgomery Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick denied the campaign’s request half an hour before the board made its final decision on the election, the AP reported.

Jones is expected to be certified as the winner later on Thursday.

The decision followed a telephone conference between the judge and the Republican candidate’s legal team over the merits of the lawsuit, according to the AP.

The legal challenge came just 14 hours ahead of the board’s expected decision.

An attorney for Jones tried to block the move Thursday with a motion to the court claiming Moore had no legal ground in his complaint.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said Thursday that the certification would happen despite the last-minute legal effort. Moore urged Merrill on Wednesday in the court filing to delay Jones’s official win “until a thorough investigation of potential election fraud, that improperly altered the outcome of this election, is conducted.” 

Moore’s lawsuit came after he attempted to raise additional campaign money from donors to file an official complaint before the deadline, citing outstanding votes from military personnel and out-of-state ballots that had yet to be counted.

Jones will be sworn in Jan. 3 by Vice President Pence.

– This story was updated at 2:15 P.M. EST.