How Elections Are Certified in Battleground States

With voting underway for the midterm elections, voters should be prepared to hear about election certification: the post-election formality that marks the end of the vote-counting process.

In the weeks after Election Day, local election officials begin a series of checks, known as the canvass, to make sure all votes are counted, resolve any discrepancies in the vote totals, and ensure the results are accurate. Once the canvass is complete, they must formally certify the completion of that process by a specific date set by state law. They then deliver the results to state officials, who complete their own canvass and certify the results for non-local elections, including congressional races. Following the state process, certificates of election for congressional races are transmitted to the House and Senate.

Essentially, certification confirms that all the necessary steps in the post-election process have taken place. That’s why state laws across the country establish it as a mandatory duty. Certifying officials have no authority to investigate the results or weigh in on legal issues. Instead, those questions are left to processes specifically designed to answer them, such as election contests and other court proceedings.

Over a century of well-settled state court precedent confirms that certification is mandatory. But following the 2020 election, dozens of local officials responsible for certifying results refused or threatened to refuse to do so, rooting their misconduct in false claims that the 2020 election was rigged and widespread fraud persists in our election system. Attempts to interfere with certification persisted throughout the 2024 election cycle, evolving into a vehicle to express disagreement or doubt as to any aspect of an election, including the outcomes of downballot races.

Fortunately, these attempts have failed due to the many legal tools that courts and state officials have to compel certification. And while each state differs in their respective safeguards, the result is the same: voters can rest assured that their ballots will be counted and certified for this year’s midterm elections.

To help navigate this process, we’ve summarized deadlines and key procedures for certifying the general election in 11 battleground states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. For additional details, see the collection of state certification guides created by All Voting is Local, the Brennan Center, Campaign Legal Center, and Protect Democracy.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: November 23, 2026

Certification Process: Under Arizona law, the canvass is the process of reviewing and declaring election results by a mandated deadline, and certification serves as the final step at the end of the canvass. County boards of supervisors must meet to conduct the canvass no later than the third Thursday after the election, this year November 19, 2026. After completing and signing off on the canvass, each county board must immediately send a copy of the official canvass to the secretary of state. The secretary of state must complete the canvass for non-local races no later than the third Monday following the election, November 23, 2026.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? Parties affected by a refusal to certify can ask a court to issue an order directing officials to carry out their duties as required by law. In Arizona, that court order is a type of “special action” relief that several types of impacted parties can request, including the secretary of state, an aggrieved candidate, or an affected voter. For example, the secretary of state and Arizona voters requested court intervention after the Cochise County Board of Supervisors refused to canvass and sign off on the results of the 2022 general election. The court granted their request and ordered the county to complete the canvass.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a person defies a court order to perform a specific action, Arizona law allows state courts to appoint someone else to perform that action at the disobedient party’s expense. Courts can also hold the party refusing to comply in civil or criminal contempt.

For more information on Arizona, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: November 30, 2026

Certification Process: County canvass boards must complete the canvass, certify the abstract of votes cast, and transmit the certification to the secretary of state by no later than 22 days after the election, this year November 25, 2026. The secretary of state must then compile and total the returns received from all counties and prepare and certify the results for non-local races by no later than the 27th day after the election, November 30, 2026.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? If a county canvass board fails to certify the results, state law requires the canvass board to transmit the noncertified results to the secretary of state along with a written report detailing the reason for not certifying the election. If the secretary determines that the record “is clear and convincing” in showing how many votes were cast for the race in question, the secretary must certify the results for the county and proceed to certifying the state-level results. If necessary, parties affected by a refusal to certify in Colorado — such as voters, aggrieved candidates, or the secretary of state — can alternatively file an action in state court.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official defies a court order to certify an election, Colorado law would allow a state court to appoint someone else to carry out the order.

For more information on Colorado, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: November 17, 2026

Certification Process: County canvassing boards must submit the official county returns for the election of federal or state officers to the Florida Department of State by no later than noon on the 13th day following the general election, this year November 16, 2026. Canvassing boards must file their official returns “immediately” after certifying the election results. At the state level, state law requires an elections canvassing commission comprised of the governor and two members of the cabinet selected by the governor to meet at 8 a.m. on the 14th day after the general election, November 17, 2026, to certify the returns for each federal, state, and multicounty office.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? Parties affected by a refusal to certify can ask a state court to order the certifying officials to perform their duties as required by law. Several types of parties can file such an action, including affected candidates, the secretary of state, and voters.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official defies a court order to certify an election, courts have a range of options to force compliance including, but not limited to, holding the disobedient party in contempt and appointing another individual to carry out the court order.

For more information on Florida, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: November 20, 2026

Certification Process: County officials must certify their precincts’ returns no later than 5 p.m. on November 9, 2026, and immediately transmit them to the secretary of state. Upon receiving the certified returns, the secretary of state immediately begins canvassing the votes cast and must certify the results for non-local races by 5 p.m. on the 17th day after the election, November 20, 2026.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? Parties affected by a refusal to certify can ask a state court to issue an order directing officials to carry out their duties as required by law. Several types of parties can bring such a request, including candidates affected by the refusal to certify, the secretary of state, and impacted Georgia voters.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official defies a court order to certify an election, Georgia law would allow a state court to appoint someone else to perform the action at the disobedient official’s expense. A court could also hold that certifying official in civil or criminal contempt.

For more information on Georgia, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: November 23, 2026

Certification Process: County boards of canvassers must complete the canvass no later than 14 days after the election, this year November 19, 2026. Within 24 hours after completing the canvass, they must send a certified copy of the statement of results to the secretary of state. The Board of State Canvassers is responsible for certifying non-local races. The state board must meet, canvass, and announce its determination no later than 20 days after the election, November 23, 2026.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? If a board of county canvassers fails to certify the results by the 14th day after the election, state law requires the Board of State Canvassers to immediately step in and make the necessary determinations to certify the county’s results by November 23. All costs associated with that effort must be borne by the county that failed to certify. If necessary, parties affected by a refusal to certify in Michigan — such as voters, aggrieved candidates, or the secretary of state — can alternatively file an action in state court.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official defies a court order to certify an election, the party who obtained the order can ask the court for contempt sanctions, such as fines, under state law.

For more information on Michigan, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: November 24, 2026

Certification Process: Under Nevada law, the canvass is the process of reviewing and declaring election results by a mandated deadline. Certification serves as the final step at the end of the canvass. The board of county commissioners for each county must complete their canvass by the 10th day following the election, this year November 13, 2026. State law directs the county clerk to then create an abstract of the results based on the canvass, and the board “shall cause the county clerk to certify the abstract” and send a copy of the abstract a report to the secretary of state, also by no later than November 13, 2026. The secretary of state must meet with at least a majority of the justices of the Nevada Supreme Court to canvass the vote for non-local races on the fourth Tuesday of November following the general election, November 24, 2026.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? Parties affected by a refusal to certify can ask a court for an order requiring the officials to perform their public duties as required by law. In 2024, the secretary of state filed such a demand against the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners after it refused to certify the results of two recounts in the June 2024 primary election. The court dismissed the lawsuit as moot after the board subsequently certified the results.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If an official defies a court order to certify, Nevada law would allow a court to appoint another individual to carry out the court order. If a party persists in refusing to obey a court order, the court may issue “any orders necessary and proper for the complete enforcement” of the order under Nevada law. A court could also hold a disobedient official in civil or criminal contempt.

For more information on Nevada, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: November 24, 2026 (may be extended by 10 days if county canvasses are delayed)

Certification Process: County election boards must meet at 11 a.m. 10 days after Election Day, this year November 13, 2026, to complete the canvass and authenticate the count. As soon as the canvass is complete, county boards prepare abstracts — a document signed by the members of the board showing the votes for each candidate. The State Board of Elections must meet on the Tuesday three weeks after Election Day to complete the canvass for non-local elections, November 24, 2026. It may adjourn for not more than 10 days to secure missing abstracts if the county canvass is delayed. Six days after the completion of the canvass, if no election protest is pending, the state board issues a certificate of nomination or election.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? If the State Board of Elections has not received all of the county canvass results by November 24, state law authorizes it to secure the original or copies of the missing abstracts from county officials at the county’s expense. State law also gives the state board authority to hear and act on complaints related to a county board’s failure to comply with election laws — authority that should provide a sufficient basis for the state board to issue an administrative order against a rogue county board. And if necessary, an affected candidate, voter, or the state board can file an action in state court.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? North Carolina law provides a mechanism for a court to direct another party to carry out a court order if the ordered party refuses to comply. The party who obtained the order can also petition the court for criminal or civil contempt sanctions.

For more information on North Carolina, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: Upon receipt of county certified results, which must be received by November 23, 2026

Certification Process: County boards must deliver unofficial returns for all statewide public offices to the secretary of the commonwealth by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday following the election, this year November 10, 2026. After sending the unofficial returns, the county boards continue their canvass. The returns are considered unofficial for five days, during which petitions for recounts or recanvasses may be filed. At the end of the five-day period, if no revisions are necessary, the county boards must certify the returns to the secretary. If a recount or revisions are required, the county board must make them and then certify the results. But under no circumstance can county boards certify their results to the secretary later than November 23, 2026. Upon receiving the certified returns, the secretary must canvass the votes for non-local races and present the results for U.S. congressional races to the governor.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? Parties affected by a refusal to certify can ask a state court to order the certifying officials to perform their duties as required by law. Several types of parties can file such an action, including affected candidates, the secretary of the commonwealth, and voters.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official refuses to comply with a court order, the court that issued it may penalize that official under contempt of court.

For more information on Pennsylvania, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: December 7, 2026 for all non-local races (except the governor and lieutenant governor race)

Certification Process: Local canvassing authorities — generally, a county commissioners court — must meet to conduct the canvass no later than 14 days after the election, November 17, 2026. No later than 24 hours after the county canvass, the clerk of each county must prepare and certify the county returns and deliver them to the secretary of state. For all non-local races other than an election for the office of the governor or lieutenant governor, the governor must conduct the state canvass and certification at the time set by the secretary of state. That time may be no earlier than the 18th day and no later than the 33rd day after election day: between November 21 and December 7 (because the 33rd day falls on a Sunday in 2026). 

The returns for the governor and lieutenant governor races are separately canvassed by the state legislature following the first day of the next legislative session, January 12, 2027. The speaker of the house of representatives declares the results and subsequently delivers the returns to the secretary of state, who prepares a tabulation for those races.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? In Texas, parties affected by a refusal to certify, such as affected candidates or the secretary of state, can ask a state court to order the certifying officials to perform their duties as required by state law.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official refuses to comply with a court order, the court that issued it has broad authority to enforce compliance including, but not limited to, by holding a disobedient official in contempt of court.

For more information on Texas, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: December 7, 2026 (may be extended by no more than three days for delays)

Certification Process: Electoral boards must ascertain the election results and certify and sign the abstract of votes by no later than 10 days after the election, this year November 13, 2026. The secretary of the electoral board then immediately sends certified copies of the abstract of votes to the State Board of Elections. The board must meet to ascertain and certify the results of the election for non-local races no later than the first Monday in December, December 7, 2026. If a majority of the board is not present, or if the board cannot ascertain the results for any reason, it may adjourn for no more than three days.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? Parties affected by a refusal to certify can ask a court for an order requiring the officials to perform their public duties as required by law. Several types of parties can file such an action, including affected candidates, the secretary of state, and voters. For example, a group of voters requested court intervention after two members of the Waynesboro electoral board preemptively announced their plan to refuse to certify the 2024 general election results. The court granted their request and ordered the board members to certify the election results consistent with state law. 

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official refuses to comply with a court order, the court that issued it may enforce that order through sanctions for contempt of court.

For more information on Virginia, see here.

State Deadline for Certifying General Election Results: December 1, 2026

Certification Process: County boards of canvassers must convene by 9 a.m. on the Tuesday after the election to conduct the county canvass and must deliver certified vote statements to the Wisconsin Elections Commission no later than 14 days after the election, this year November 17, 2026. The WEC chairperson must publicly canvass the returns and formally declare the results on or before December 1, 2026.

What happens if there is a refusal to certify? If WEC does not receive certified vote statements by the requisite deadline, it must immediately notify the county in writing that failure to immediately forward the statements constitutes a violation of law that will result in an immediate lawsuit brought by WEC. If WEC does not receive the statements within one day after written notice is delivered, it must immediately ask the state circuit court for the county at issue for an order to obtain the statements and compel certification. If necessary, parties affected by a refusal to certify in Wisconsin — such as voters or aggrieved candidates — can alternatively file an action in state court.

What happens if a certifying official refuses to follow a court order? If a certifying official refuses to comply with a court order, the party who obtained the order can seek contempt sanctions. The district attorney or the attorney general can also seek punitive sanctions.

For more information on Wisconsin, see here.