Share this guide
Link copiedAn election canvass is the post-election process of compiling, reconciling and validating the votes and records from an election. Certification is the formal step in which the legally responsible election official or body attests that the results are a true and accurate accounting of the votes cast.
They are related, but they are not the same thing. The canvass is the review and reconciliation process that helps establish the official totals; certification is the formal act that confirms those results after the required post-election steps have been completed.
Why are election-night results unofficial?
The numbers reported after polls close are election results, but they are not yet certified results.
Election officials release preliminary totals so the public can follow the count, but those numbers can change as additional valid ballots are processed and records are reconciled.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) states that election-night results are never final certified results. Even “100% Precincts Reporting” remains unofficial until required post-election processes are complete.
Depending on state law, officials may still need to process mail, military and overseas ballots, or a provisional ballot whose eligibility must first be confirmed. Media projections are also separate from the legal certification process.
What is an election canvass?
The canvass is the process of compiling, reviewing and validating election returns so officials can establish complete and accurate results.
The EAC describes the canvass as the point at which election officials aggregate and confirm every valid ballot cast and counted, including ballots from early voting, Election Day, mail voting, provisional voting, and uniformed and overseas citizens.
Depending on the jurisdiction, a canvass can include compiling results, confirming that eligible ballot categories were processed, reconciling ballot and voter records, reviewing discrepancies, incorporating valid outstanding ballots, checking tabulation documentation and preparing a canvass report.
The purpose is broader than adding the numbers again: it is to account for election records and resolve discrepancies before certification.
Is canvassing the same as counting ballots?
No.
Tabulation is the process of totaling votes. Canvassing is broader: it reviews and reconciles the results and supporting election records.
Counting can therefore be part of the canvass without being the entire canvass. Officials may compare preliminary totals with records showing how many voters participated and how ballots were issued, returned or otherwise processed.
The ESG glossary also includes official canvass, reflecting the formal review conducted under jurisdiction-specific law.
Why can vote totals change during the canvass?
A changing unofficial total does not by itself indicate that something went wrong.
Totals can change as valid mail or provisional ballots are added, or as officials resolve reporting and reconciliation issues. States also have different deadlines for receiving and counting certain ballot types.
That is why election returns reported shortly after polls close can differ from certified totals. A changing unofficial count while valid ballots are still being processed is not the same as a change to already certified results.
What is election certification?
Certification of official election results is the formal attestation that the election results are a true and accurate accounting of the votes cast in that election.
Certification follows the processes required by the jurisdiction, which can include the canvass and other reviews. Once it occurs, the totals become certified election results.
It is therefore not another name for vote counting; it is the formal act confirming the result produced through the required process.
Who certifies election results?
There is no single nationwide certifying official for every U.S. election.
Authority depends on state law, the jurisdiction and the contest being certified.
According to the EAC, local certification may be performed by a multi-member board or by an individual official such as a county auditor or municipal clerk. At state level, certification may involve a secretary of state, governor, election director, legislature or multi-member board, depending on the state.
Some elections involve local and state stages, with local results transmitted for aggregation and state-level certification where required. Deadlines vary considerably and are set by law.
Where do post-election audits fit?
A post-election audit is a separate review used to check election results, procedures or both.
A tabulation audit, for example, can compare a hand count of sampled paper records with the corresponding reported vote totals.
The EAC often illustrates the common post-election path as:
Unofficial results → canvass → post-election audit → certification
But that is a general framework, not a nationwide legal sequence.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reported in April 2026 that all 50 states and Washington, D.C., conduct some type of post-election audit, but timing differs. Many require completion before certification; others audit afterward or do not specify a completion deadline.
An audit and a canvass are therefore separate processes, and their timing depends on the jurisdiction.
Is a recount part of the canvass or certification?
A recount is an additional count of votes, usually triggered under state law because of a close margin, a request by an eligible party, or a court order.
It is not the ordinary canvass and is not required in every election. Recount timing also varies: it can affect certification in some jurisdictions or occur after an initial certification in others.
An audit usually checks selected records or procedures; a recount repeats the count for the relevant contest or ballots under state law.
How do the post-election stages fit together?
A simplified election lifecycle looks like this:
Polls close → unofficial results are reported → remaining valid ballots are processed → canvass and reconciliation → required audits or other reviews → certification
Recounts or election contests may alter that sequence under state law.
The purpose of each stage differs: unofficial reporting provides preliminary totals; canvassing reconciles and validates records; auditing checks aspects of the result or process; certification formally attests to the result; and recounts or contests provide additional review when legally triggered.
That is why an apparent winner can be clear on election night before the results are legally certified.
Do canvass and certification rules vary by state?
Yes. U.S. election administration is decentralised, and state law governs the details.
States differ in canvass and certification deadlines, responsible officials, ballot-resolution rules, audit timing and recount procedures. NCSL's state-by-state resources show that deadlines can range from shortly after Election Day to several weeks later.
For a particular election, the relevant state or local election authority is the controlling source.
Related ESG terms
- Canvass
- Canvass Report
- Official Canvass
- Election Results
- Election Returns
- Tabulation
- Provisional Ballot
- Post Election Audit
- Tabulation Audit
- Certification of Official Election Results
- Certified Election Results
- Recount
Frequently asked questions
1. Is the winner announced on election night officially elected?
Not necessarily. Election-night totals are unofficial, and media organisations may project a winner before election officials finish the canvass and certification process. The legally official results are those certified by the authorised election officials or bodies under the applicable state and local laws.
2. What is the main difference between canvass and certification?
The canvass is the process of compiling, reconciling and validating election results and records. Certification is the formal act of attesting that the resulting totals are a true and accurate accounting of the votes cast. In simple terms, the canvass does the review; certification formally confirms the result.
3. Does every ballot have to be counted on election night?
No. State laws determine which ballots can be processed and counted after Election Day. Valid mail, provisional, military or overseas ballots may still need to be reviewed or counted after election night. That is one reason initial totals remain unofficial.
4. Can election results change after certification?
Certification marks the official result, but state law can provide later mechanisms such as recounts, election contests or court proceedings. Whether and how a certified result can subsequently change depends on the applicable law and the outcome of those procedures.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — Election Results, Canvass, and Certification
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — Why do election results change after election night?
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — Clearinghouse Resources on Results, Canvassing, & Certification
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission — Clearinghouse Resources on Audits & Recounts
- National Conference of State Legislatures — Canvass Deadlines
- National Conference of State Legislatures — Election Certification Deadlines
- National Conference of State Legislatures — Post-Election Audits
ESG editorial note: Election Security Glossary is an educational and reference resource. It is not an election authority and does not provide legal advice or official voting instructions. Canvass, audit, recount and certification procedures vary by jurisdiction; consult the relevant election authority for rules and deadlines that apply to a specific election.