Idaho, Nebraska, and Wisconsin passed laws this year to change deadlines related to compiling, reviewing, and certifying election results, a process called canvassing. The laws in Idaho and Nebraska will be in effect for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and the law in Wisconsin will be in effect for the 2028 presidential election.

Idaho H 873 moved the county canvass deadline from 10 days to nine days after the election.

Nebraska LB 1075 requires county officials to submit the official election results to the state by the third Monday after the election. Previously, there was no deadline for this to occur.

In 49 states, canvassing is a dual-level process, with state and local election officials compiling, reviewing, and certifying vote totals. In Rhode Island, canvassing happens entirely at the state level.

In the first step of the process, local officials review election results in their jurisdiction and certify the results to the state. In all 49 states, the law sets a deadline for this step to occur.

After the local election results are sent to state officials, those officials compile, review, and officially certify the results, completing the final step of the canvassing process. Forty-two states have a statutory deadline for state officials to certify the canvass, although in some states, state officials may pause the process due to a recount or if a county or municipality has not submitted its election results.

After the canvassing process is complete, state or local officials will issue certificates of election to the winning candidates.

States' canvassing deadlines fall within the following timeframes:

• Two states require the state canvass to take place within one week of the general election.
• Four states require it to occur within two weeks.
• Thirteen states require it to occur within three weeks.
• Six states require it to occur within four weeks.
• Six states require it to occur within five weeks.
• Three states require it to occur within six weeks.
• Eight states have different deadlines depending on the office.
• Eight states have no statutory deadline.

Wisconsin AB 374 requires the county canvass to take place before noon on the Saturday after a presidential election. The state canvass must then occur within 21 days of a presidential election. Previously, Wisconsin held the state canvass on Dec. 1 for all general elections, including presidential elections.

Wisconsin’s law was intended to bring the state into compliance with the federal Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act (ECRA). President Joe Biden (D) signed the ECRA into law in 2022. ECRA made changes to state and federal procedures for certifying presidential electors and counting electoral college votes. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 19 states have passed laws modifying their post-election procedures — including their canvassing procedures — to comply with ECRA.

Nine other states have enacted 17 bills in 2026 to amend other aspects of their canvassing or vote-counting processes. In 2025, 15 states enacted 32 bills related to election canvassing and counting.

Click here for more information about state election result canvassing.