Looking Ahead: Counting + Certification Steps

Monitoring the remaining races

Like many organizations focused on protecting our democratic process, Informing Democracy was prepared for a close presidential race that could have caused dangerous disinformation, interference in the post-vote processes, and chaos. 

While accusations of fraud and other noise from election deniers have largely faded regarding the presidential election, the official canvasses and election certifications remain necessary and important steps. This is critical to confirming the outcome of several very close Senate, House, and down-ballot races. Some of these races have extremely close margins that could mean we see anti-democratic attempts at interference.

We’ll continue to monitor the post-vote processes, update the Post-Vote Tracker, and use this newsletter to communicate what’s happening at a cadence proportional to the remaining risk.  

We’re grateful to all of our partners who have fought to protect our democracy, no matter what. We’re honored to work alongside you. 

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Counting + Certification: What’s Next

Here’s what to expect next in the counting and certification processes in key states:

Arizona 

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • Early ballots continue to be processed and counted. Results are typically released in drops, reflecting ballots processed and counted from each day before and up to the election. See the progress here. Note for Maricopa County. this takes on average 13 days to complete after the election

  • Hand Count Audits may be ongoing in some counties

  • Cure is ongoing for mail-in and provisional ballots until today, 5 p.m. local time

• Happening Next Week:

  • Early ballots continue to be processed and counted

  • In some counties (likely only less populous counties), Boards of Supervisors begin their canvass of election results

Florida

• Happening Tomorrow (Saturday, Nov 9):

  • County Canvassing Boards must file their “First Unofficial Results” with the Department of State by noon

• Happening Next Week

  • Friday is the Deadline for UOCAVA ballots to be received by the Supervisor of Elections

Georgia

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • Some counties are conducting “pre-certification meetings” at 3 p.m., even though the rule adopted by the State Election Board requiring this meeting was ruled “void” by a judge. (It isn’t entirely clear what will occur at these meetings; they may  just be a formality.) 

  • Deadline for UOCAVA ballots to be received

  • Deadline for voters to cure their provisional ballots

  • Deadline for curing issues with domestic VBM ballots

  • Counties can certify their results after 5 p.m. 

• Happening Next Week:

  • The deadline for counties to certify results is Tuesday at 5 p.m.

  • Thursday is the deadline to request a recount (the deadline could be sooner if certification occurs before the deadline on Tuesday) 

  • Counties will also begin the Risk-Limiting Audit 

Michigan

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • County canvasses continue

  • UOCAVA ballots postmarked by Election Day may continue to be received until Monday

  • Provisional ballots may continue to be cured until Monday

• Happening Next Week:

  • County canvasses may continue all week

Nevada

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • Provisional ballot curing deadline

• Happening Next Week:

  • Mail ballot curing deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday,  Nov 12

  • Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail audit and Risk-Limiting Audit will be completed by Nov 15

  • County canvass and certification meetings will be held by Nov 15

North Carolina

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • Pre-canvass meetings ongoing, which include continued provisional and final absentee ballot review

• Happening Next Week:

  • Hand count audits are conducted

  • Pre-canvass meetings ongoing, which include continued provisional and final absentee ballot review

  • County canvass and certification meetings happen at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov 15

Ohio

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • Provisional ballots  may continue to be cured until tomorrow

  • Absentee ballots may continue to be received and counted until tomorrow

• Happening This Weekend and Next Week

  • Official canvasses in the counties may begin on Monday

Pennsylvania

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • Remaining mail ballots received by poll close are processed and counted no later than today

  • All County Boards of Election must begin their canvass of election results by 9 a.m. local time today

  • Review and tabulation of provisional ballots is ongoing, including opportunities for voters to cure their ballots where necessary. Note: not all counties notify voters of issues with their ballots.

• Happening Next Week:

  • County canvasses continue

  • County Boards of Election have until Tuesday to review and tabulate provisional ballots. If an appropriate party challenges the County Board of Elections’ determinations as to whether a provisional ballot should count, then a hearing will be held within seven days

  • Losing candidates within the automatic recount margin have until noon Wednesday to waive their right to a recount

  • The Secretary of State orders automatic recounts no later than 5 p.m. Thursday.

Virginia

• Happening Today (Nov 8):

  • The deadline for voters to cure their provisional ballots is 12 p.m.

  • The deadline for domestic mail ballots to be received by the General Registrar

• Happening Next Week:

  • Electoral Boards must certify the results of their jurisdiction by Friday, Nov 15

Wisconsin

• Happening Today (Friday, Nov 8):

  • County canvasses begin in some counties

  • Provisional ballots may be cured until 4:00 p.m. today

  • The post-election audit begins today

• Happening Next Week:

  • The post-election audit continues

  • County canvassing must begin in all counties by Tuesday