TAMPA, Fla. — Editor's note: A previous story said California certified its election results on Dec. 11, which is true for non-presidential candidates. However, the state certifies election results in a presidential race by Dec. 5. This story has been updated to reflect that.
States have begun certifying their results from the Nov. 3, 2020, presidential election in the run-up to the Electoral College meeting on Dec. 14.
Normally certification of election results does not involve much fanfare. This election, voters and of course campaigns are paying attention.
Since Nov. 3, more states have certified their election results, including Florida -- one of the four most populous states.
On Dec. 4, California certified its presidential election results and 55 electors pledged to vote for Democrat and former Vice President Joe Biden. This certification officially handed him the Electoral College majority needed to win the White House.
After certification, the results are final, but candidates can challenge. That happened in Georgia where President Donald Trump asked for a recount after the margin separating Trump from Biden was within a half of a percentage point.
When states are set to certify in December:
- Dec. 2: New Hampshire, Washington, D.C.
- Dec. 3: Washington, West Virginia, Texas, Oregon, Connecticut
- Dec. 4: Illinois
- Dec. 5: California
- Dec. 7: New York
- Dec. 8: Maryland, New Jersey, Missouri
**Tennessee and Rhode Island do not have specific certification deadlines written into state law.
All states need to certify election results by the time the electoral college meets on Dec. 14. The presidential electors will meet in their home states and cast their ballots for the candidate that won the popular vote in their state. Those votes then go to Washington.
On Jan. 6, Congress will convene, count those and declare which candidate took the most electoral votes and is the next president.
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