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UpdateVirginiaTuesday, November 3, 2026

Virginia sets December 7 date to certify 2026 election results

By the Democracy SENTRY deskPublished

Reporting by
USA Today
“When will Virginia's election results become official?”, Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Read the full story
What happened

Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted until noon on Nov. 6. Local boards begin the canvass process on Nov. 4 and have up to 10 days to complete it. The Virginia State Board of Elections is scheduled to certify results on Dec. 7, 2026.1

10 days
deadline for local boards to complete canvass after the election2
What it means in Virginia

What happens between Election Day and certification

Counties must finish the canvass within ten days of the election, by November 13, 2026.2 For federal, statewide, General Assembly, and shared offices, the State Board ascertains November results by the first Monday in December and then issues certificates of election.3 A contest must be filed within 30 days after the election, by December 3, 2026, or within 10 days after a recount court order if a recount came first.4

Key dates in Virginia

Election Day in -6 days
  1. Fri, Sep 18 · passed
    Early voting begins
  2. Fri, Oct 23 · passed
    Last day for mail ballot applications
  3. Sat, Oct 31 · passed
    Early voting ends
  4. Tue, Nov 3 · passed
    Election Day; Registration deadline
  5. Fri, Nov 6 · passed
    Mail ballots must arrive
  6. Mon, Dec 7 · 28 days
    State certification

Every date in Virginia, and who certifies the election

The answers behind this
How votes are counted and made officialVoting in Virginia, 2026Who certifies the election in Virginia, and by when?What is the difference between counting the votes and certifying them?

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Sources

  1. USA Today, https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1gFBVV95cUxQdmdabkg1TjVpUl8waU5XUzZpZWpYczNXRDJSekxlejdlcFF3RG5FcVR5RXktTWhjLW1yamFfX3N6MkEtbmF0cGFobl80VG5INnpUakViblBzckhyX3lpTC13WEtRUW8waXY0bXAtcnJNSFgwbzViZ2c0S1FXbDVwdERzaGpObVlEM2JPNkpfMUczVnR3Z1NpR0Z3a1hpZzAybkdKSi1tZnNLYlh0WmFoWEh4LWlJMmVFR3Q3Q0YzVmdoSGpyYVpXWEVudm1wVXhrMHFFMk9n?oc=5 · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
  2. NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
  3. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines
  4. NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines

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