The numbers you see on election night are not the final result. Votes are counted first, then checked in a process called the canvass, and only then formally certified by election officials. Because each state sets its own rules, the timing differs from place to place. This explainer walks through each step and why results can shift in the days after Election Day.
Key takeaways
- Election night results are unofficial. They become official only after the canvass and certification.
- Counts can change as mail, provisional, and military and overseas ballots are processed under state rules.
- Most states require a post-election audit, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).
- State and local officials set certification dates, and the officials who certify differ by state.
- A recount can delay certification, and recounts examine every ballot in the affected contests.
What happens after the polls close?
Ballot counting starts when polls close, either at the polling place or at a central site, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Unofficial results are then released and updated until all ballots are counted. Local officials report first, and state offices combine the local numbers for state and federal races. The EAC stresses that election night results are never final, even when news outlets call a race.
Why do results change after election night?
The EAC lists several reasons totals move after the first count:
- Mail ballots. Some states require them to arrive by Election Day, while others accept ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within a set window afterward.
- Provisional ballots. These are cast in person when a voter’s identity or eligibility is in doubt. States set their own rules for when they can be counted.
- Military and overseas ballots. These follow state-specific timelines that often extend past election night.
What is the canvass?
The canvass is the process of gathering and checking all the election data to confirm that every valid ballot is included. The EAC says it covers mail, military and overseas, early, Election Day and provisional ballots, and officials reconcile the ballot counts with the number of voters. According to NCSL, local officials process provisional ballots and canvass their results first, and then the state performs its own canvass.
Are election results audited?
The EAC says most states require a post-election audit to check that voting equipment counted votes correctly. Timing and methods vary by state. An audit is different from a recount, which examines every ballot in the affected contests and can change the official result.
What does certification mean, and who does it?
Certification is the formal step in which election officials attest that the results are accurate, and results are unofficial until they are certified, per the EAC. A statewide entity certifies after the state canvass, and certification gives officials the authority to be sworn in, according to NCSL. Who signs off depends on the state and level:
| Level | Who may certify |
|---|---|
| Local | A multi-member board, or a single elected official such as a county auditor or municipal clerk |
| State | A single official (such as the Secretary of State or Governor), the legislature, an appointed election director, or a multi-member board |
How long does certification take?
There is no single national timeline. NCSL notes that state law governs these steps, so there are 51 sets of rules including Washington, D.C. The EAC says state and local election officials are the authorities on certification dates. As one example, West Virginia counties must certify within 30 days of the election, or within 30 days after finishing a recount. Presidential races also have a separate timeline because of Electoral College deadlines.
What happens if a race is very close?
Recounts can be requested by a candidate or voter, triggered when the margin falls within a legal threshold, or ordered by a court, and the requester may have to pay a fee. Recounts can delay certification. A separate route is an election contest, a legal challenge to the outcome brought by a candidate, which NCSL says is not defined by how close the race was. To see how Congress handles other high-stakes votes, read our explainers on how a single lawmaker can force a House vote and what it means when a bill becomes an act.
How can you check official results in your state?
Your state or county election office is the authority on when your results are certified, so check its website for the canvass and certification schedule. Treat election night numbers as a running tally until that office says otherwise.
FAQ
Are election night results official? No. They are unofficial and never final, per the EAC.
What is the difference between a canvass and certification? The canvass gathers and confirms every valid ballot. Certification is the formal attestation that the results are accurate.
What is the difference between an audit and a recount? An audit checks that equipment counted correctly. A recount examines every ballot in the affected contests and can change the official result.
Who certifies the results? It varies. It may be a board or a single official at the local level, and a state official, legislature, election director or board at the state level.
For more, visit our Politics section.
Details are from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on canvass and certification, its explainer on why results change after election night, and the NCSL post-election processes page. Rules vary by state, so check your state election office for local deadlines.
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