Who certifies the election in Florida, and by when?

The Elections Canvassing Commission compiles the county results and certifies them. The Commission is made up of the Governor and two Cabinet members the Governor selects.

County canvassing boards certify the county results first. Each county board is made up of the supervisor of elections, a county court judge, and the chair of the county commission.

County canvassing boards must file official returns by noon on the thirteenth day after the election, November 16, 2026. County returns must reach the Department of State no later than that deadline. Returns not received by then are ignored and the Department certifies the results on file at that time.

The Elections Canvassing Commission meets at 8 a.m. on November 17, 2026, the fourteenth day after the election, to certify the results. The statewide canvass takes place at that meeting.

The county canvassing board counts mail ballots, rules on provisional ballots, certifies the county results and reports them to the state. Each board is made up of the supervisor of elections, a county court judge and the chair of the county commission.

If returns are not received because of an emergency as defined in Fla. Stat. 101.732, the Elections Canvassing Commission determines the deadline.

A contest must be filed within 10 days after the last board responsible for the results certifies them. A legislative seat can only be contested in the chamber it belongs to.