It All Starts at the County Level
The first and most critical phase of certification happens locally, in each of Georgia's 159 counties. After polls close, officials at each precinct deliver the physical ballots and memory cards from voting machines to their county election headquarters. There, election workers begin the process of tabulating all valid ballots, including in-person early votes, Election Day votes, and absentee ballots that were received by the deadline. This isn't just a simple count; it's a meticulous process called a canvass, designed to ensure every valid vote is accounted for and reconciled. The county boards of elections are required by law to complete this initial count and certify their local results by 5 p.m. on the Monday following the election. This duty
is mandatory; recent court rulings have affirmed that local officials cannot refuse to certify results based on suspected errors or fraud, but must instead report any concerns to the proper authorities.
Audits and Recounts: Verifying the Vote
Before the state certifies the election, Georgia law includes provisions for verifying the count. The state is required to conduct a Risk-Limiting Audit (RLA) before the final state certification. This type of audit involves a hand-count of a random sample of paper ballots to statistically confirm that the machine-counted outcome is correct. If the margin in a race is exceptionally close—one-half of one percent or less—a recount can be triggered. For top-of-the-ballot statewide races like Governor, an automatic hand recount of every ballot in that race is now required. For other races, including federal contests for the U.S. House or Senate, a candidate can request a recount if the margin is within that same 0.5% threshold. This request must be made within two business days after the county-level certification. If a recount does occur and changes the totals, the county must correct and recertify its results.
The State Steps In: The Secretary of State’s Role
Once all 159 counties have certified their results, they transmit those totals to the Georgia Secretary of State. The Secretary of State, who serves as Georgia's chief election officer, is responsible for aggregating, tabulating, and canvassing the votes from every county to produce the official statewide result. This is a significant undertaking that consolidates millions of votes into a final, verified tally. By law, the Secretary of State must certify the statewide results for federal and state offices no later than 5 p.m. on the 17th day after the election. Once this is complete, the results are considered official at the state level.
The Final Step: The Governor's Proclamation
The final act of the process for federal elections involves the Governor. After the Secretary of State certifies the statewide results, they are formally presented to the Governor. For presidential elections, the Governor is tasked with certifying the slate of electors for the winning candidate. This must be done by 5 p.m. on the 18th day following the election. For members of Congress, the Governor issues the official certificates of election, which are signed by the Governor and attested by the Secretary of State. This completes the legal process, formally declaring the winners and concluding Georgia's federal election certification.
