The First Check: County Boards of Elections
The certification process begins at the local level in each of Kentucky's 120 counties. On election night, poll workers deliver the initial vote tallies to their County Board of Elections. This board,
which is responsible for overseeing elections within the county, then conducts its own canvass to ensure the numbers are accurate. This includes performing a hand-to-eye audit of the results. For purely local races (like county commissioner or coroner), the County Board of Elections has the authority to issue the final certificates of election. This typically happens not later than the second Monday after the election, though the deadline is later in counties containing a city of the first class. For all other races, their job is to formalize the count and pass it up the chain.
The Midway Point: Reporting to the Secretary of State
Once the county-level canvass and audit are complete, the totals are not yet official for statewide or multi-county races. Each County Board of Elections must certify its official vote totals and send them to the Kentucky Secretary of State. Kentucky law sets a firm deadline for this step: the certified results must be received by the Secretary of State's office no later than 12 p.m. prevailing time on the Tuesday following the election. The Secretary of State, who acts as the Commonwealth's Chief Election Official, then receives and reviews these totals from all 120 counties, checking for any discrepancies and preparing a comprehensive report for the final authority. The Secretary of State is a non-voting member of the body that makes the final call.
The Final Authority: The State Board of Elections
The ultimate power to certify election results for all statewide offices, U.S. Congress, and the General Assembly rests with the Kentucky State Board of Elections. This is an independent state agency designed for bipartisan balance, composed of eight voting members—four Democrats and four Republicans—appointed by the Governor. The Secretary of State serves on the board but does not have a vote. The board convenes after receiving the compiled results from the Secretary of State. Their job is to formally review the returns, resolve any final questions, and officially declare the winners by issuing certificates of election.
The Official Timeline: Key Deadlines
The timeline for certifying an election in Kentucky is clearly defined by state law. Following the November 3, 2026, general election, counties must transmit their certified totals to the Secretary of State by noon on the following Tuesday. From there, the process moves to the state level. The State Board of Elections must meet to canvass the results and issue the final certifications no later than the third Monday after the election. For the 2026 general election, a reported deadline for this final certification meeting is November 23, 2026. This schedule provides time for counties to conduct their reviews and for any potential recanvass requests to be filed and addressed before the results are made final.
