Sharing the Facts About Finalizing Election Results

When a voter fills in the bubbles on their ballot, pushes the “vote” button on the machine screen, or drops their ballot in the mail, that is just the beginning of the voting process.

Elections are run by the states. This decentralization makes elections more secure, but also means each state has its own set of laws, procedures, and timelines. Finalizing election results can take days in some states and weeks in others, depending on turnout, the closeness of a race, and the rules for when election workers can begin processing mail and absentee ballots. When election results take time, it’s a sign that the process is working and that officials are ensuring accuracy.

While the press may often declare winners on Election Day, the official results are not final until every vote has been counted and every process followed. Election officials go through a long, thorough process of counting all the votes, checking and double-checking their count, auditing the results, and eventually going through the final, mandatory legal step of certification.

People expect to know who won on election night. Unfortunately, some bad actors may take advantage of this to question the process and the timing of the count if they don’t like the election results. It’s important for voters to understand what it takes to finalize election results. From casting a ballot, to counting the votes (including waiting for late-arriving overseas votes, counting cured and provisional ballots, and resolving voter challenges), to potential recounts and audits, to certification, this process takes time. And that’s a good thing for our elections.

Here are some key takeaways about how state and local officials count, finalize, and certify election results:

• States are in charge of counting the votes. Officials will make sure that every eligible vote is counted before they announce a winner.
  • Elections may be national events, but they are led and run by state and local officials. These election workers are the beating heart of our voting process, making sure your ballot is properly counted.
  • Election workers are based in their communities, where they work day and night to count and verify the results. They take the time needed to get it right.
  • Their work is subject to public inspection and oversight. Multiple layers of election officials conduct and oversee the counting in every election.
• Election officials must ensure a free and fair election.
  • Officials will count every legal vote—accurately, fairly, and as quickly as possible. Only then will we know the result.
  • It may take several days—or even weeks—to get final results, especially in close races. And some races will go to recounts—a process by which votes are recounted and rechecked. That’s normal. It’s a sign the system is working, and that election officials are focused on making sure every vote is counted and that the results are accurate.
• Election Day is the deadline for voting, not for counting or declaring a winner. Early results don’t tell the full story.
  • After voting is over and as results start to be calculated, you may see big swings in results as different counties report their vote totals. In some races you may see the current “lead” candidate shifts back and forth. But election results aren’t complete until every eligible vote has been counted.
  • Initial results will change as different counties report their vote totals. This doesn’t mean anything is wrong—it just means election officials are doing their jobs.
• When it’s time to declare a winner, state and local election officials are the best source for accurate information.
  • All votes need to be counted, and no candidate can truly claim victory before that’s happened.
  • After voting finishes and before the results are final, bad actors may try to confuse voters with conspiracy theories or false claims of voter fraud. Don’t fall for it. Remember, your state and local election officials are your source for truthful election information.
• Certifying election results isn’t a choice—it’s a duty.
  • Certification is the final step in the election, after the votes have been counted, checked, and rechecked. And it’s mandatory. The law says state and local officials must certify the results of the election once the count is final.
  • Anyone who says otherwise and who claims officials can choose whether to certify is looking to undermine our free, fair, secure elections.
  • There is plenty of time before certification for questions or concerns about how the election was run. That’s why we have an entire system of processes that take place before certification. Once those processes have run their course, it is time to certify.
  • Certification is a responsibility that election officials have to make sure the will of the people is heard.