Certification
Election certification is the formal process by which an authorized election official or body confirms the official results after required counting, canvassing, audits, and any applicable recounts. Certification records the legally recognized result; it is distinct from campaigning, media projections, or unofficial counts.
Election certification is the formal process by which an authorized election official or body confirms the official results after required counting, canvassing, audits, and any applicable recounts. Certification records the legally recognized result; it is distinct from campaigning, media projections, or unofficial counts.
Example: Georgia completed a statewide hand audit of ballots after the 2020 presidential election and then certified the results under state election procedures.
Common misconception: Certification is a political endorsement of the winner. It is an official administrative determination made under election law, not a statement of personal support.
Sources: https://sos.ga.gov/; https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/2020