Election certification is a critical part of the electoral process; it’s what confirms that election results are true and accurate, maintaining the integrity of our election system. Certification is governed by established laws and legally mandated procedures, followed by trusted election officials who make sure the results are an accurate reflection of the will of the voters...

In every single state, without exception, certification is a mandatory part of the election process. Designated election officials responsible for certification have a legal duty to complete the process by the applicable deadline. The certification of an election is never an optional step that officials can decline because they disagree with the results.

To see a step-by-step process of how states take every ballot and tally them all to certify an election, read the full LWVUS Blog post.
LWVUS Blog / Last Updated: November 12, 2026