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CERTIFYING HOUSE ELECTIONS, ANSWERED

Does the governor certify House election results?

It depends on your state: some governors certify House results, while other states use boards or secretaries of state.

The short answer

Whether the governor certifies U.S. House election results depends on your state. In Texas, the governor conducts the state canvass for U.S. Representatives between November 18 and December 3, 2026. In Alabama, the governor serves on the three-member State Canvassing Board with the Secretary of State and Attorney General. In Arizona, the secretary of state canvasses returns in the presence of the governor and attorney general on November 23, 2026, then issues the certificate of election. Other states use boards: in Michigan, the Board of State Canvassers determines who was elected, and in Florida, the Elections Canvassing Commission certifies statewide returns at 8 a.m. on the 14th day after the election.

BY THE NUMBERS
November 23, 2026
Arizona canvass date, third Monday after the general election
3
Members on Alabama's State Canvassing Board

States where the governor certifies House results

In Texas, county commissioners courts canvass returns between November 6 and November 14, 2026. The governor then conducts the state canvass for a U.S. Representative between November 18 and December 3, 2026. Under Texas Election Code 67.010, the governor canvasses U.S. House returns.

In Alabama, the governor is one of three members of the State Canvassing Board, along with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.

States where other officials or boards certify

In Arizona, the secretary of state canvasses in the presence of the governor and the attorney general on the third Monday after the general election, November 23, 2026, and then issues a signed certificate of election.

In Michigan, the Board of State Canvassers determines who was elected. In Florida, the Elections Canvassing Commission certifies statewide returns at 8 a.m. on the 14th day after the election.

Each state names its own certifying authority.

How the canvassing process works

Certification happens in stages. In Texas, each county's commissioners court canvasses its returns between November 6 and November 14, 2026. The state-level canvass follows, with the governor conducting it for U.S. House races between November 18 and December 3, 2026.

Other states follow different timelines and procedures based on their own election codes.

More on how votes are counted and made official.

See all the questions

Frequently asked questions

Q. Does the governor certify U.S. House election results?

It depends on the state. Under Texas Election Code 67.010 the Governor canvasses U.S. House returns, while in Michigan the Board of State Canvassers decides who was elected. Each state names its own certifying authority. In Alabama, the Governor is one of three members of the State Canvassing Board, with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General.

Explore this issue

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Sources

  1. Texas Election Code Secs. 67.010, 67.012, 1.005 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov), https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/EL/htm/EL.67.htm