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ARIZONA ELECTION CERTIFICATION

Who certifies the election in Arizona, and by when?

The Secretary of State certifies the election on the third Monday after Election Day, with the Governor and Attorney General as witnesses.

The short answer

The Secretary of State certifies Arizona's election on November 23, 2026, the third Monday after Election Day. The canvass takes place in the presence of the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Chief Justice. Before that, each county board of supervisors must canvass its returns by the third Thursday after the election, November 19, 2026.

BY THE NUMBERS
November 19, 2026
County canvass deadline
November 23, 2026
State certification deadline

County canvass comes first

The county recorder sends results to the county board of supervisors. Each county board of supervisors canvasses the returns no later than the third Thursday after the election, November 19, 2026. The county then sends its results to the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State certifies statewide

The Secretary of State receives the county results and canvasses the statewide results on the third Monday after the election, November 23, 2026. The Governor, the Attorney General, and the Chief Justice serve as witnesses. The Secretary then issues certifications.

If a recount is required, certificates are issued when the recount is complete.

When a recount happens

A recount is automatic when the difference between the top two candidates or between votes on an initiative or referendum is less than or equal to 1/2 of 1% of the votes cast for both.

Contesting the results

A contest must be filed within five days after the canvass and certification are complete.

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Frequently asked questions

Q. Who certifies a U.S. House race in Arizona, and by when?

The Secretary of State canvasses it on November 23, 2026, the third Monday after the election, in the presence of the Governor and Attorney General. After the statewide canvass the Secretary issues a signed certificate of election. The canvass rests on the certified county returns and gives the Secretary no discretion to reject valid returns.

Q. When must mail ballots arrive to be counted?

Mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Q. When is the county canvass deadline?

Counties must canvass the returns no later than the third Thursday after the election, November 19, 2026.

Explore this issue

OverviewHow votes are counted and made official In depthHow are votes counted and certified in Arizona? In depthHow are votes counted and certified in Pennsylvania? In depthHow are votes counted and certified in Wisconsin? In depthHow are votes counted and certified in North Carolina? In depthHow are votes counted and certified in Texas? In depthThe certification calendar: who signs off, and by when In depthWhen can the House refuse to seat someone who won? In depthIf the House refuses to seat someone, does the district go without a representative? In depthWhat if some races are still in dispute on January 3? In depthDoes the House have to accept a state's certified winner? In depthCould disputed races keep either party from a majority? In depthCan the House refuse to seat a winner from the other party?

Sources

  1. NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
  2. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines
  3. Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
  4. nass.org, https://www.nass.org/node/2455
  5. Arizona Revised Statutes section 16-648 (Arizona State Legislature), https://www.azleg.gov/ars/16/00648.htm