As the counting of ballots continues in many states, it may not seem like it, but there is a process that brings the election to an end and finalizes the results.
The process involves canvassing and certifying the ballots. Canvassing refers to how state and local officials validate ballots that are cast in an election. Certification can mean different things in different states, but in the end, it is the process that state officials use to formalize the result of the election.
The date that certification happens varies by state. Below is a list of the state’s certification deadlines.
Delaware — Nov. 5
Virginia — Nov. 10
Vermont — Nov. 10
South Dakota — Nov. 10
Oklahoma — Nov. 10
Louisiana — Nov. 10
Wyoming — Nov. 11
South Carolina — Nov. 11
Mississippi — Nov. 13
Florida — Nov. 17
Massachusetts — Nov. 18
Idaho — Nov. 18
Arkansas — Nov. 18
North Dakota — Nov. 20
Georgia — Nov. 20
Utah — Nov. 23
Pennsylvania — Nov. 23
Michigan — Nov. 23
Maine — Nov. 23
Kentucky — Nov. 23
Ohio — Nov. 24
North Carolina — Nov. 24
New Mexico — Nov. 24
Minnesota — Nov. 24
Indiana — Nov. 24
District of Columbia — Nov. 24
Alaska — Nov. 25
Alabama — Nov. 25
Nebraska — Nov. 30
Montana — Nov. 30
Iowa — Nov. 30
Colorado — Nov. 30
Arizona — Nov. 30
Wisconsin — Dec. 1
Nevada — Dec. 1
Kansas — Dec. 1
West Virginia — Dec. 3
Washington — Dec. 3
Texas — Dec. 3
Oregon — Dec. 3
Connecticut — Dec. 3
Illinois — Dec. 4
New York — Dec. 7
New Jersey — Dec. 8
Missouri — Dec. 8
Maryland — Dec. 8
California — Dec. 11
Note: Hawaii, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Tennessee do not have certification dates specified in state law, according to Ballotpedia.
Cox Media Group
