States, territories, and the District of Columbia (DC) administer federal elections. Each of these jurisdictions has its own process for counting votes and declaring election winners, though all follow similar steps. These processes have drawn renewed congressional and public attention during recent election cycles. The results that voters see reported on election night are the culmination of several steps in the election administration process, but are not the end of that process. Finalizing federal election results typically occurs days or weeks after election day. Among other steps, state, territorial, and local election officials canvass votes to ensure that ballots are valid and counted correctly. Election observers, audits, and other measures are designed to help ensure transparency and accuracy. This updated report addresses frequently asked questions on these and related subjects. The discussion emphasizes the period between the time a voter casts a ballot and when states, territories, and DC finalize or certify the results.
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