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Post-Election Processes

Once a voter is registered and is able to cast their ballot, the question still remains of whether that ballot will be accurately counted, and the election results properly confirmed. Voter confidence in our elections is crucial, yet in recent elections, some partisan actors have worked to systematically undermine this confidence.

The resources on this page discuss a range of post-election processes, including audits, certification, recounts and more. 

Related Resources

Map

Post-Election Audits Required

This map details which states require some form of a post-election audit, though not all states have such processes in place.

Report

Beyond the Ballot: Understanding Post-Election Processes in America

October 2024 - This report illustrates how state laws vary on important points of post-election processes—such as ballot pre-processing, post-election audits, and the certification process.

Video

What Happens After You Cast Your Ballot

October 2024 - This new video explains the critical processes that take place after voting ends that help to protect the accuracy, integrity and security of our election system.

Analysis

How Election Denialism Threatens Our Democracy and the Safeguards We Need to Defend It

May 2023 - Detailing the level of risk to each state posed by election denialism and the resulting threats when the proper safeguards are not in place, this report offers over 10 recommendations for ways in which states can protect their elections.

Analysis

Counting All the Votes: When to Expect Election Results and Why It Takes Time

November 2022 - How quickly a state can tabulate election results depends on several variables such as the margin of the races, overall turnout, the percent of votes that are mail votes, and whether or not mail ballot have been pre-processed.

Report

Five Approaches to Actually Secure U.S. Elections

September 2022 - Details five policy approaches that states should adopt to secure elections and ensure that eligible voters can cast their votes.

Report

The 10 policy trends transforming voting & Elections in america

April 2022 - This report examines a number of legislative proposals across the United States that seek to make policy changes in three main areas: registration & eligibility, casting a vote, and vote counting & certification.

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Sexual Orientation Policy Tally

The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or more than one sex or gender. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily protect or harm lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. That said, transgender people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual can be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Policy Tally

“Gender identity” is a person’s deeply-felt inner sense of being male, female, or something else or in-between. “Gender expression” refers to a person’s characteristics and behaviors such as appearance, dress, mannerisms and speech patterns that can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily protect or harm transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of gender or manner of dress does not adhere to gender stereotypes.

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