MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Madison judge has granted state election officials an additional 30 days to verify nearly 2 million signatures on recall petitions against Gov. Scott Walker and five other Republicans.

Democrats and their allies filed the recall signatures against Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four GOP senators with the state Government Accountability Board on Jan. 17. State law gives the board 31 days to verify the signatures' authenticity. The clock began ticking on Jan. 18.

But the board says it's been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of names and a Waukesha County judge's order calling for the board to ferret out fictitious names and duplicate signatures.

Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess says the board faces an unprecedented task and deserves more time to do its work.