Certification deadline in statute

Section 17-12-21 codifies a specific, mandatory certification deadline in statute: the Secretary of State 'shall' furnish certificates of election 'within 10 days after receiving the returns.' This language establishes a clear, binding timeline that is not subject to administrative discretion. The use of 'shall' imposes a mandatory duty with a defined temporal trigger (10 days from receipt of returns). The deadline is statutory, not left to agency discretion or interpretation. This satisfies the criterion that the certification deadline must be 'set by statute, not by administrative discretion.'

“The Secretary of State shall, within 10 days after receiving the returns of election from the judge of probate of each county, furnish, from a count of the actual vote cast, as the same appears by the returns certified to him or her, certificates of election to members of the Legislature and to members of Congress.”

Ark. Code § 7-5-703 explicitly sets a statutory certification deadline: the Secretary of State must cast up and arrange votes within 30 days after the time allowed for county board returns (or sooner if returns are complete). The Governor then 'immediately thereafter' issues a proclamation declaring the winner and grants an official certificate under the state seal. The certification mechanism and timeline are codified in statute, not left to administrative discretion. The use of mandatory language ('shall') and a fixed 30-day window satisfies the requirement that the certification deadline be set by statute rather than discretionary action.

Чл. 344 codifies the certification deadline: CEC announces final presidential results within 3 days after election day; published in State Gazette within 7 days. Statutory, not administrative discretion.

“Окончателните резултати от изборите за президент и вицепрезидент на републиката се обявяват от Централната избирателна комисия в срок до три дни след изборния ден”

Cal. Elec. Code § 15301 codifies the canvass-start deadline (Thursday following election) and 30-day completion deadline. § 15501 codifies the SoS compilation deadline. § 15620 codifies the 5-day recount-request window after official canvass. Certification timeline is fully statutory.

“The canvass shall commence no later than the Thursday following the election, shall be open to the public, and, for state or statewide elections, shall result in a report of results to the Secretary of State.”

C.R.S. § 1-4-1406(1)(b) establishes a clear, binding certification deadline of the eighteenth day after the election. The language 'No later than' creates a mandatory, non-discretionary duty for the county clerk and recorder. This deadline is codified in statute rather than left to administrative discretion. The statute further requires the secretary of state to compile results and certify them 'in the manner provided by law,' establishing a statutory framework for the certification process. The deadline is explicit, measurable, and leaves no room for administrative interpretation or delay.

The point at which results become official is set by statute — § 62 of the Referendum Act has the National Electoral Committee approve results by resolution after election day, once the complaint and appeal periods have expired; result registration is statutorily timed, not left to administrative discretion.

“The National Electoral Committee approves the results of a referendum by a resolution after the referendum day but not before the term for filing complaints or appeals with the National Electoral Committee and the Supreme Court has expired”

§ 94 codifies an explicit certification deadline: 'the constituency committee confirms the election result at a meeting beginning at 18:00 on the 3rd day after election day.' § 95 codifies the municipal-election result confirmation. § 179 codifies confirmation of the EP-election result. § 100 codifies the object of appeal (the result-confirmation decision). Statutory certification deadline codified.

“Vaalipiirilautakunta vahvistaa vaalien tuloksen 3. päivänä vaalipäivän jälkeen kello 18 aloitettavassa kokouksessaan.”

§ 102.112 + § 102.111 codify certification deadlines: county returns to DoS immediately after certification; Elections Canvassing Commission deadline to certify statewide returns.

Election Code Article 153 codifies the certification deadline: 'The respective DEC chairperson shall, within five days after summarisation of final results of elections, register persons elected as members of the local self-government representative body Sakrebulo.' Article 76 (in v0 cands) codifies CEC summarisation 19-day deadline. Article 130 codifies replacement procedures. Statutory certification timeline clearly codified.

§ 21-2-497 codifies preparation and filing by superintendent of four copies of consolidated return of election within statutory deadline. § 21-2-499 (not in FTS top-5) codifies Secretary of State tabulation/computation deadline. § 21-2-154 codifies political-party candidate certification. Certification deadline statutorily codified.

Ν. 4648/2019 Άρθρο 41 replaces ΠΔ 26/2012 Άρθρο 103 to vest MP-declaration in the Areios Pagos in public session (based on Supreme Electoral Committee's decision). Άρθρο 35 codifies a 2-day deadline for declaring electoral coalitions. Άρθρο 38 codifies a 1-day window for name/emblem dispute filing.

“Η ανακήρυξη των βουλευτών, σύμφωνα με αυτά που ορίζονται στα οικεία άρθρα, γίνεται από τον Άρειο Πάγο σε δημόσια συνεδρίαση”

10 ILCS 5/7-60.1 sets the 5-day post-canvass certification deadline for consolidated-election candidates. § 7-60 sets a 74-days-before-general-election deadline for State Board of Elections certification of candidates. § 7-56 codifies a 2-day post-canvass primary-tabulation deadline.

“no later than 5 days following the canvass and proclamation of the results of the consolidated primary”

The statute explicitly sets a specific, mandatory certification deadline: 'not later than noon seventy-four (74) days before the date of the general election.' This is a bright-line rule fixed in statute, leaving no room for administrative discretion about when certification must occur. The use of 'shall' and the specific day count create a binding statutory timeline rather than discretionary timing.

Iowa Code § 50.30A establishes a specific statutory deadline: county commissioners must forward the certified election canvass summary to the state commissioner 'within thirteen days after each primary election, general election, and special election.' This deadline is fixed by statute, not left to administrative discretion. The requirement uses mandatory language ('shall') and specifies a precise temporal boundary (thirteen days), leaving no room for discretionary delay or postponement. This satisfies the criterion that certification timing be codified in statute rather than determined by administrative discretion.

K.S.A. 25-3206(b) establishes a mandatory statutory deadline for when the state board of canvassers must convene to conduct the final canvass—no later than December 1 following the election. This is a binding statutory deadline that does not rest on administrative discretion. Additionally, subsection (e) requires the board to 'determine what persons have been elected' and endorse and subscribe a certificate of determination to be delivered to the secretary of state, which constitutes the official certification. The statute thus codifies both the deadline for the canvass meeting (December 1) and the process by which results become certified and official, removing these critical timing determinations from discretionary authority.

“In the case of general elections, the meeting shall be called not later than December 1 next following the election, except when the date falls on Sunday, then not later than the following day, and may recess from time to time until the canvass is completed.”

§ 90 of the EP Election Law and § 94 of the Seimas Election Law set certification timing in statute — EP-member certificates issued within 7 days of proclamation, Seimas certificates within 3 days; the proclamation itself is on a codified short timetable (§ 73, § 85).

“After the proclamation of election results the Central Electoral Committee shall, within 7 days, issue certificates”

La. R.S. 18:513(A) explicitly codifies the certification deadline as a mandatory duty ('shall certify') occurring within a specific, numerically defined timeframe (thirty days after the general election date). The deadline is set by statute, not left to administrative discretion. The section applies across multiple categories of elected offices (state legislature, Congress, presidential electors, party committees, and other offices), with subsection (B) providing additional deadline specifications for when governors issue commissions. This satisfies the criterion's requirement that the certification deadline be statutorily fixed rather than discretionary.

The statute explicitly establishes a certification deadline and mechanism: the Secretary of State must tabulate within 20 days and submit certified tabulation to the Governor. Critically, the statute defines the moment results become final and official—'as of the date the certified copy is submitted to the Governor.' This is a bright-line rule set by statute, not discretionary. The exception for pending recounts acknowledges that the statutory framework accounts for dispute resolution procedures. The use of mandatory language ('shall') and the specific definition of finality ('is considered final') satisfy the criterion for a codified certification deadline.

“Within 20 days after an election, the Secretary of State shall tabulate the election returns and submit a certified copy of the tabulation to the Governor. The tabulation of a candidate or referendum election is considered final as of the date the certified copy is submitted to the Governor, except for any contests in which a recount is pending.”

Section 11-501(a) establishes a clear statutory certification timeline. The State Board must convene within 2 days after receiving certified results from local boards, and within 1 day of convening, must review canvasser statements and prepare and certify statewide election results. This creates a binding statutory deadline (maximum 3 days from receipt of local results to final certification) that is not subject to administrative discretion. The statute specifies the procedural steps and timeframes with mandatory language ('shall'), making the certification deadline a matter of statutory requirement rather than agency choice.

M.G.L. c. 54, § 132 establishes a specific, binding statutory deadline for certification: the city or town clerk 'shall, within fifteen days after an election' certify results to the state secretary. This is a clear, non-discretionary mandate. The deadline is set by statute rather than left to administrative discretion, and applies uniformly to elections of state, city, town officers and elections of presidential electors. The use of 'shall' imposes a mandatory duty with a fixed temporal boundary.

“The city or town clerk shall, within fifteen days after an election of state, city or town officers, certify to the state secretary the total number of voters checked on the voting list at such election in each voting precinct of the town.”

Statute sets specific deadlines (14 days for county certification transmittal, 20 days for state board canvass meeting) for primary election certification.

§ 204C.37 codifies the county-canvass report deadline: certified canvassing-board reports must reach the Secretary of State 'within ten days following the applicable election,' with a special-messenger backstop. § 204C.35 codifies recount timing. § 211C.07 codifies recall-election writ timing. § 209.09 codifies appeal timing. Statutory certification deadlines codified.

Mississippi Code § 23-15-601(1) establishes a clear, mandatory statutory deadline for certification. The commissioners of election 'shall' deliver the certificate of election 'within ten (10) days after the day of the election.' This is a specific, non-discretionary timeline codified in statute. The use of 'shall' creates an affirmative obligation, and the deadline is fixed at 10 days post-election. There is no delegation to administrative discretion regarding when certification occurs; the timing is explicitly set by statute.

The section explicitly codifies a certification deadline in statute: the Constitutional Court must confirm or invalidate election legality and validate mandates within 10 days of receiving CEC acts. This is a fixed statutory timeline, not subject to administrative discretion. The provision also establishes a clear trigger (receipt of acts from CEC within 24 hours of result totalization) and a condition precedent (resolution of electoral appeals). The statutory deadline and the validation mechanism (by judgment) provide procedural clarity for when results become official.

NRS § 295.210 establishes a clear, statutory certification deadline. Subsection 1 mandates that the city clerk 'shall complete a certificate as to its sufficiency' within 20 days—a fixed timeline set by statute, not discretionary. Subsection 2 provides that once certified (or if not challenged), the certificate becomes 'a final determination as to the sufficiency of the petition,' which must be 'promptly present[ed]' to the council. Subsection 3 allows a narrow, time-bound review by the council (within 2 days of receiving notice, decided at the next council meeting). The statute thus codifies both the initial 20-day deadline and the appeal/review process with defined timing, leaving no room for administrative discretion in whether to certify or how long certification may take. This satisfies the criterion that the certification deadline is set by statute.

The statute sets mandatory, specific certification deadlines that are not subject to administrative discretion. NMSA 1978, § 1-13-13(A) establishes a six-to-ten-day window (or six-to-thirteen-day window for counties exceeding 150,000 voters) for county canvassing board certification, and § 1-13-13(C) establishes a thirty-first-day deadline for the secretary of state's issuance of election certificates. These are binding statutory provisions that define when results become official, removing discretionary authority. The language 'shall meet' and 'shall issue' creates mandatory obligations with fixed temporal parameters.

§ 9-210 codifies the statements-of-canvass timing by canvassing boards. § 9-200 codifies primary-canvass deadlines. § 9-211 codifies audit-completion timing relative to certification. § 15-126 codifies village-canvass deadlines. § 16-102 codifies contest filing deadlines tied to certification dates. Certification deadlines are statutorily codified.

The statute explicitly codifies certification deadlines with specific temporal triggers. For county-level ballots, certification occurs six days after canvass completion absent a pending protest (§ 163-182.15(a)(1)); with a protest, it issues five days after dismissal/denial unless appealed, or ten days after State Board's final decision, or five days after Superior Court's final order (§ 163-182.15(a)(2)(A)-(C)). For state-level ballots, the same six-day default applies (§ 163-182.15(b)(1)), with ten days post-State Board decision on protest, or five days post-Superior Court final order (§ 163-182.15(b)(2)(A)-(B)). These are statutory rules, not discretionary administrative determinations. The deadlines are absolute unless the statute itself provides for a stay by Superior Court of Wake County (per § 163-182.14 reference). This satisfies the criterion that the timing of official results is set by statute rather than discretion.

§ 16.1-14-03 codifies that the Governor proclaims results, publishes them, and issues certificate of election for presidential electors. § 16.1-15-22 (not in FTS top-5) codifies certified abstract delivery 'before four p.m. on the thirteenth day after the primary election.' § 16.1-16-04 codifies certification-tied contest deadlines. Certification deadlines codified.

§ 16-6 codifies complaint-filing deadlines (and by reference the certification windows). § 21-4 codifies time-period calculations. § 5-7 codifies candidate-list deadline. § 17-3 codifies acting representatives during re-election (timing). Certification deadlines codified throughout.

ORC 3513.22 codifies the certification deadlines: board must complete the canvass within 21 days after the election and the canvass becomes final at 81 days. SOS may set an earlier finality date if required by federal law. Statutory, not administrative-discretion.

“complete the canvass not later than the twenty-first day after the day of the election. Eighty-one days after the day of the election, the canvass of election returns sha”

The statute explicitly sets a specific, binding certification deadline: 5:00 p.m. Tuesday following the General Election. This is a clear statutory mandate, not subject to administrative discretion. The section also addresses the alternative scenario where a contest is filed, establishing that certification occurs 'either when the contest is determined or when it has been abandoned,' which provides a secondary but still statutory framework. The deadline is codified in statute and leaves no discretionary authority to the State Election Board or other officials to delay or extend the certification date absent a pending contest.

ORS § 248.023(3) establishes a hard statutory deadline of the 35th day after a primary election by which the county elections official must prepare and furnish the certified list of elected precinct committeepersons. The use of mandatory language ('shall') and a specific numerical deadline ('35th day') removes discretion from administrative officials. This directly codifies when certification of results becomes official for precinct committeeperson offices. The provision satisfies the criterion because the certification deadline is set by statute and not subject to administrative discretion.

The statute explicitly establishes a binding 14-day deadline for the State Electoral Commission (PKW) to transmit the election report to the President, Speaker of the Sejm, and Supreme Court following publication of the announcement referenced in Article 238. This is a clear, mandatory timeline codified in the Electoral Code (nie później niż 14 dnia = 'not later than 14 days'). The deadline is set by statute, not administrative discretion, and creates a fixed point for certification timing. This satisfies the requirement that the certification deadline be established by law rather than left to administrative judgment.

The statute establishes a fixed certification deadline: results must be proclaimed and published by the tenth day after voting. The phrase 'até ao décimo dia posterior ao da votação' (until the tenth day following the voting day) sets a mandatory, non-discretionary timeline. The deadline is codified in the statute and does not depend on administrative discretion. The mechanism (proclamation by the president and publication via notice at the Constitutional Court) is also specified.

“Os resultados do apuramento geral serão proclamados pelo presidente e, em seguida, publicados por meio de edital afixado à porta do Tribunal Constitucional, até ao décimo dia posterior ao da votação.”

Art. 2 defines 'electoral period' as ending with publication of result in Monitorul Oficial — statutory recognition of certification.

“perioada electorală cuprinde intervalul de timp dintre data intrării în vigoare a hotărârii Guvernului privind stabilirea datei alegerilor”

Article 78 codifies appeal-submission terms: a court 'shall not deny acceptance of an appeal of violation of electoral rights' with specific time limits. Article 69 codifies the result-processing timeline. Article 27 codifies precinct commission formation during campaign period. Article 37 codifies signature-collection deadlines. Certification timeline statutorily framed.

Section 57(2) establishes a clear statutory certification deadline: within seven days after voting day, with specified floor (not before 21:00 of the second day after voting) and prerequisite conditions (objections under section 55 must be resolved). The deadline is fixed in statute, not left to administrative discretion. Section 57(4)-(5) provides a statutory mechanism for extension only 'on good cause shown' to the Electoral Court, which constrains discretion. This satisfies the criterion that certification timing be codified by statute rather than left to agency judgment.

§ 12-11-3 codifies the certification timing for special congressional elections. § 8-8 codifies certification to county auditors. § 12-21-47 codifies certiorari filing deadline. § 12-21-61 codifies appeal procedure with speedy-determination provisions. § 12-5-14 codifies party-officer certification. Statutory certification deadlines codified.

Article 224(1) of LOREG establishes a binding statutory deadline—'no más tarde del vigésimo día posterior a las elecciones' (no later than the twentieth day following elections)—for the Central Electoral Board (Junta Electoral Central) to conduct the national recount, attribute seats to each candidacy, and proclaim the elected candidates. The use of 'procederá' (shall proceed) and the specific temporal limit ('no más tarde del vigésimo día') indicate a mandatory duty with a fixed, non-discretionary deadline. The proclamation of elected candidates is the point at which results become official under Spanish law. This deadline is codified in statute, not left to administrative discretion, and thus satisfies the criterion that certification timing must be set by law rather than administrative choice.

“La Junta Electoral Central procederá, no más tarde del vigésimo día posterior a las elecciones, al recuento de los votos a nivel nacional, a la atribución de escaños correspondientes a cada una de las candidaturas y a la proclamación de electos.”

14 kap. 1 § codifies that 'the central election authority shall, on the basis of the result of the final vote count, distribute mandates… and establish which candidates have been elected.' 14 kap. 13 § codifies application to other elections. 14 kap. 1a § codifies additional-mandate distribution. 15 kap. 5 § codifies certification-decision appeal venue. Certification deadlines tied to canvass completion codified.

Law 2972 Article 25 codifies the certification-amendment procedure: if challenges result in record annulment, the new outcome determines who is certified ('yeni işlem sonucuna göre, seçilmiş oldukları anlaşılanlara'). Reinforced by Law 298 Article 130 (3-day appeal deadlines making timeline finality cascade). Certification timeline is statutory.

Art. III-188 codifies registration of elected MPs (acquisition of mandate). Art. III-180 codifies territorial-district result tabulation. Art. II-126 / III-181 codify out-of-country tabulation. Art. II-130 codifies acquisition of presidential powers (within 30 days of result publication). Certification deadlines clearly codified per election type.

RCW 29A.60.260 establishes a statutory certification deadline for statewide measures. The statute specifies that the secretary of state must canvass votes and certify results 'within thirty days after the election' and that the governor must 'forthwith issue a proclamation' declaring the result. This deadline is mandatory and codified in statute, not left to administrative discretion. The language 'shall' indicates a non-discretionary duty. The thirty-day deadline provides a fixed temporal boundary for the certification process, satisfying the requirement that certification deadlines be set by statute rather than discretionary determination.

“The secretary of state shall, in the presence of the governor, within thirty days after the election, canvass the votes upon each question and certify to the governor the result. The governor shall forthwith issue a proclamation giving the whole number of votes cast in the state for and against such measure and declaring the result.”

Wis. Stat. § 7.60 codifies the county-canvass deadline. § 7.70 codifies the state-canvass procedure with statutory deadlines. § 7.08 codifies commission supervision. Together: certification timeline is statutory across precinct → municipal → county → state levels.

Alaska Stat. § 15.15.440 establishes a statutory deadline for the state ballot counting review process (16 days) and a hard deadline for receipt of missing precinct materials (15 days after election). However, the statute does not explicitly codify when the certification becomes 'official' or final. The section describes the recount/review process and when the director 'shall close the review,' but does not state that closure triggers official certification or specify a distinct certification deadline separate from completion of the counting review. The criterion requires a statutory deadline for when a result becomes 'official'—not merely when a procedural step concludes. The statute provides procedural timing but lacks clarity on the moment of official certification. A dual scholar would note that the 16-day limit on conducting the review is clear, but the statutory moment at which results are certified as official is ambiguous or implicit rather than explicit.

The statute sets a specific deadline (10 calendar days maximum) for completion of the official recount (escrutinio definitivo) for presidential elections. This is a codified temporal boundary. However, the criterion asks about certification deadline—when the result becomes 'official.' The statute establishes when the recount must conclude but does not explicitly address when that conclusion triggers official certification or when the result gains binding legal status. The statute requires the recount to be 'concluido' (concluded) within 10 days, but uses discretionary language for non-presidential elections ('en el menor tiempo posible'—in the shortest time possible), which delegates timing to administrative discretion. The section establishes recount procedure and timeline but does not clearly codify the moment of certification or the legal effect thereof.

Section 16-676(B) establishes a strict timeline for court proceedings in election contests (hearing within 10 days, judgment within 5 days of submission), but this addresses the timeline for *resolving disputes* rather than the timing of *initial certification*. The section does not codify when election results must be certified as official in the first instance—only the expedited timeline for challenging certified results through contest proceedings. The statute specifies consequences of contested elections (§16-676(C) on declaring an alternative winner) but does not establish the statutory deadline for initial certification before a contest is filed. TIME.1 asks whether the certification deadline itself is set by statute; this section addresses post-certification contest resolution timing, not the triggering certification moment.

“the court shall file its findings and immediately thereafter shall pronounce judgment, either confirming or annulling and setting aside the election”

Section 284 establishes a certification mechanism requiring the Electoral Commissioner to certify elected candidates and return writs to the Governor-General (or Speaker) following declarations by Divisional Returning Officers. However, the certification deadline is framed as 'as soon as practicable' — a discretionary temporal standard rather than a fixed statutory date. While the procedural sequence is codified (declaration → certification → return of writ), the timing criterion for when certification must occur is undefined and subject to administrative judgment. This creates ambiguity about when the result officially becomes final. A binary scoring rule would yield 0 (no fixed deadline), but the statute does provide some temporal constraint and procedural clarity regarding the certification process itself, warranting a partial score reflecting incomplete satisfaction of the criterion.

“As soon as practicable after it has been ascertained that a candidate in a House of Representatives election has been elected, the Divisional Returning Officer shall, at the place of nomination or another place determined by the Australian Electoral Officer for the State or Territory concerned, publicly declare the name of the candidate.”

§ 14a establishes specific procedural timelines for ballot processing and reporting: the district election authority begins processing on the day after the election at 9:00 AM (Abs. 1-2), issues immediate reports to the state authority (Sofortmeldung), compiles provisional results in a record (Abs. 3), and must determine late-arriving ballots by the fifteenth day after election day (Abs. 5). However, the section does not explicitly specify when the overall election result becomes 'official' or 'unanfechtbar' (incontestable). The statute references the point at which 'das Ergebnis der Wahl unanfechtbar feststeht' for purposes of ballot destruction but does not codify the statutory mechanism or deadline for certification itself. The procedural steps are clearly detailed, but the final certification moment—when results transition from provisional to officially certified—is not explicitly anchored to a fixed statutory date. This satisfies the procedural clarity requirement partially: timelines for intermediate steps are codified, but the ultimate certification deadline and mechanism appear to depend on the completion of dispute periods rather than a fixed statutory date.

Article 108 codifies publication of Council of the Republic election results. Article 101 codifies registration of candidates by the Central Commission with timing. Article 41 codifies powers of local commissions including establishment of results within statutory periods. Article 135 codifies timing for signature collection. Certification timing is codified in pieces across instrument articles though not as a single 'certification deadline' clause.

Article 177 establishes a 5-day statutory deadline for transmission of election protocols and contested ballots to the Chamber of Representatives clerk. This codifies a procedural timing requirement for compilation of results. However, the section does not explicitly state when the result becomes 'official' or certified—it addresses only transmission deadlines for documentation to the legislative body. The clause establishes administrative timing requirements but stops short of codifying the moment at which certification is legally complete or effective. A statutory certification deadline typically specifies the date by which official results must be proclaimed or declared final; this article addresses prior procedural steps. The criterion asks whether the certification deadline itself is set by statute, not whether intermediate reporting deadlines are codified.

The statute sets a 10-day deadline for transmitting certification documents (diplomas and records) to the superior court AFTER diplomation occurs. This establishes a procedural timeline for submission of materials. However, the section does not explicitly define when the result becomes 'official' or 'certified'—it addresses when diplomas are issued and reports transmitted, but does not clarify whether certification is complete upon diploma issuance, upon transmission, or upon superior court receipt/approval. The criterion requires a clear statutory deadline for when results are final/official. The 10-day rule is codified but applies to post-diplomation reporting rather than defining the certification moment itself. There is some procedural clarity, but ambiguity remains about the exact point at which certification becomes final.

Section 313(1) establishes a certification deadline tied to two trigger events: (a) the sixth day following completion of validation of results, or (b) receipt of a recount certificate under section 308. The statute does set a measurable deadline ('without delay after' these events), which constrains administrative discretion more than a purely discretionary timeline would. However, the phrase 'without delay' is somewhat indeterminate—it does not specify an exact calendar date or fixed number of days after the triggering event, leaving interpretation to the returning officer. The criterion asks whether the deadline is 'set by statute, not by administrative discretion.' This section partially satisfies that requirement: the deadline is statutory and tied to defined events, but the precision and enforceability of 'without delay' may allow some discretionary interpretation at the margins. The section does not address statutory stay mechanisms for pending disputes, which is part of criterion (c) in the rubric.

“The returning officer, without delay after the sixth day that follows the completion of the validation of results or, if there is a recount, without delay after receiving the certificate referred to in section 308, shall declare elected the candidate who obtained the largest number of votes”

The statute establishes that official results shall be published after all legal remedies for protecting voting rights are exhausted OR their filing deadlines expire. This creates a statutory trigger for certification, but it is conditional and procedurally dependent rather than a fixed deadline. The criterion asks whether 'the certification deadline (when the result becomes official) is set by statute, not by administrative discretion.' This section sets a statutory rule (exhaustion of remedies or expiry of remedy deadlines), not administrative discretion. However, TIME.1 typically expects a concrete date or clear temporal boundary (e.g., 'within 15 days'). This rule makes certification contingent on completion of dispute resolution rather than establishing an independent certification deadline. The statute does provide legal certainty by tying certification to exhaustion of remedies rather than discretion, but the deadline itself depends on when those remedies conclude—which may vary case to case. This is partially codified but not a fixed statutory deadline.

§ 47 establishes a 30-day deadline for the Minister of Interior to announce re-elections or repeated voting following a court finding that a vote or election was invalid. However, this section addresses only contingent scenarios (invalidation or failure to achieve quorum) triggering remedial elections, not the primary certification deadline for normal election results. The statute codifies a procedural deadline for ministerial action in dispute contexts, but does not explicitly set a certification deadline for when initial election results become official under normal circumstances. The section provides procedural clarity for post-dispute proceedings (timing for announcing re-runs) but does not address the core element of TIME.1—when the main election result is officially certified—which would typically be governed by other statutory provisions not provided in this excerpt. Without visibility into whether a general certification deadline exists elsewhere in the Electoral Act, this partially satisfies the criterion by establishing temporal rules for dispute remedies but leaves the primary certification mechanism unclear.

“vyhlásí opakované volby nebo opakované hlasování ministr vnitra do 30 dnů poté, kdy mu bylo oznámeno usnesení soudu”

§ 7106(a) is a cross-reference provision that incorporates by reference the certification procedures applicable to general elections. It does not itself set a certification deadline. To evaluate whether this section satisfies TIME.1, one must examine the general election laws of Delaware (likely § 7101 et seq. or other provisions of Title 15). The statute delegates certification to 'the same manner...as prescribed for the general election,' but this section does not codify a specific deadline. The criterion requires the deadline to be set by statute (not administrative discretion), but this provision only cross-references—without embedding—the deadline. A full analysis would require review of the general election statute to determine whether it sets a firm deadline or grants discretion. As currently isolated, § 7106(a) does not independently satisfy the criterion, though it may point to a satisfying provision elsewhere.

“Every special election in a representative or senatorial district shall be provided for, opened, held, conducted and closed and the result thereof ascertained and certified in the same manner, at the same places and subject to the same laws, so far as the same may be applicable, as prescribed for the general election”

§ 42 codifies Ankestyrelsen list-preparation timing. § 13 codifies party-name approval. § 12 codifies new-party registration (no later than 15 days before election). § 37 codifies party-candidate-list deadline (10 days before election). § 89 codifies validity-decision timing. Statutory certification deadlines codified across multiple sections.

The statute codifies a 15-day contest deadline following proclamation of results, which implies a statutory moment of proclamation/certification. However, the section does not explicitly define WHEN certification/proclamation occurs—it only regulates the window for challenging results AFTER proclamation. The statute establishes a clear deadline for disputing certified results but does not affirmatively specify the statutory trigger for when results become official (e.g., does it occur automatically on election day, after canvassing, after a specific administrative act?). Additionally, the final sentence—'Le conseiller territorial proclamé élu reste en fonction jusqu'à ce qu'il ait été définitivement statué sur la réclamation'—establishes a stay mechanism during dispute but does not clarify the initial certification moment. This satisfies the contest-deadline portion of TIME.1 but incompletely addresses the certification-deadline requirement.

“Les élections au conseil territorial peuvent être contestées dans les quinze jours suivant la proclamation des résultats”

The statute establishes that certification (official declaration of results) occurs after the National Electoral Board (Valgnævnet) decides any election complaints and prepares a preliminary election count, followed by submission of the election record to Inatsisartut. However, the provision uses temporal language ('umiddelbart efter'—'immediately after') rather than a specific calendar deadline (e.g., '5 days after', '14 days after election'). The complaint filing deadline is clearly codified (7 days after election), and the sequential process is statutory, but the moment when results become officially certified lacks a precise temporal anchor. This satisfies the procedural-clarity requirement only partially: the framework is statutory and orderly, but lacks the bright-line deadline that permits predictable certification timing.

This section establishes a CONDITION for certification (all valid ballots must be included) but does not itself set the certification deadline. It cross-references section 11-155, which governs the actual certification process and timing. The section codifies procedural requirements that must be satisfied BEFORE certification can occur (ballot verification within 5 business days, initial tabulation by 6 a.m. day after election), but the statutory deadline for when certification actually occurs is located in the referenced statute (11-155), not in this section. For the dual-scholar test: Scholar A would note this clearly ties certification to a defined procedural sequence (favorable for procedural clarity). Scholar B would observe that without seeing 11-155, one cannot assess whether the certification deadline itself is fixed by statute or subject to discretion. The section provides clarity on prerequisites to certification but incomplete clarity on the deadline itself as it appears in this extract.

“No election result shall be certified pursuant to section 11-155 unless all ballots verified as valid by the clerk within five business days following an election day have been added to the final tabulation.”

The statute specifies a procedural timeline (14 days' notice before the National Electoral Commission convenes) and grants the Commission authority to 'declare the result.' However, the text does not establish a fixed deadline by which certification must occur. The 14-day notice requirement is procedural (notice to candidates and agents) rather than a substantive deadline for when the result becomes official. The statute says the Commission 'shall...declare the result' but does not codify when that declaration must be completed—only that candidates must have notice and opportunity to attend. This leaves discretion over the actual certification timing to the NEC, even though the Commission is bound to hold the hearing. A clear statutory deadline (e.g., 'certification shall occur no later than X days after receipt of all documents') would satisfy the criterion fully.

The statute codifies a 10-day deadline for conducting the canvass of election results, which is a fixed procedural timeline. However, the criterion asks whether the CERTIFICATION deadline (when results become 'official') is set by statute. This section addresses canvassing (the counting and verification process) but does not explicitly define when certification is complete or when results become officially certified. The section delegates the manner of canvassing to Chapter 12, and requires the county clerk to 'certify the election results' but does not state a deadline for that certification step itself or define the legal effect of certification. The statutory framework is partially clear on timing but incomplete regarding the moment results become official.

“The board of county commissioners shall conduct the canvass of the election results within ten (10) days after the election, in the manner provided in chapter 12, title 34, Idaho Code.”

Section 41 addresses notification timing after petition procedures are exhausted, but does not itself codify a certification deadline. The section specifies that notification must occur 'forthwith' (immediately) after certain petition conditions are met, establishing procedural clarity on when the returning officer receives notification of petition closure. However, the section is procedurally contingent—it triggers only after petition windows close (section 42(2), section 44). The statute does establish time limits for petition applications and presentations (referenced in sections 42(2) and 44), which indirectly create certification timing. But section 41 itself does not explicitly state when the result becomes 'official' or when certification occurs; it only requires notification that petition procedures have concluded. The certification deadline appears to be implicit in the petition deadlines rather than independently codified. This represents partial satisfaction: there is statutory time-binding language ('forthwith'), but the certification deadline itself is not directly stated in this section.

“the Master of the High Court shall forthwith notify the referendum returning officer in writing accordingly”

Article 44(4) establishes statutory deadlines for publication of election results (10 days for presidential/parliamentary results, 7 days for local results). However, the statute distinguishes between 'publication' of results and 'certification' or official status. The text specifies when results must be published in mass media but does not explicitly state when results become 'official' or 'certified' for legal purposes. Article 45 indicates that registration of elected officials occurs 'after' publication, but the exact moment of official certification is ambiguous. The statute provides clear, non-discretionary publication timelines (mandatory 'no later than' language), which partially satisfies the criterion, but lacks an explicit statutory definition of the certification moment itself. A dual scholar would find the publication deadlines codified and binding, but note the absence of language explicitly establishing when results attain official legal status independent of publication.

KRS 117.275 codifies the counting and certification of votes — locking and sealing of equipment, transmission of return sheets, and tabulation and certification of ballots — and KRS 118A.190 codifies the State Board's issuance of certificates following a primary or regular election. The explicit certification deadline ('not later than the second Monday after the election,' KRS 118.425) was not surfaced for this datapoint.

Latvia's results become official by a codified election-commission / Central Election Commission approval decision, and § 35¹ ties a three-working-day contest window to that decision; the surfaced sections do not, however, set a fixed statutory deadline for the approval itself.

The statute codifies a five-day deadline for filing an election contest ('recours') before the Administrative Court, measured from proclamation of results. This establishes a procedurally clear filing deadline. However, the provision does not explicitly specify when certification/official declaration of results occurs or when the result becomes binding ('officiel'). It only establishes when challenges must be filed. The statute references 'proclamation of results' as a trigger but does not define whether proclamation itself constitutes certification or whether a separate certification event occurs. TIME.1 specifically asks whether 'the certification deadline (when the result becomes official) is set by statute.' The text establishes a challenge deadline but leaves implicit when the result actually becomes official/certified. A dual scholar would likely find this partially satisfactory: clear procedural timing for dispute filing, but ambiguous on the statutory endpoint for certification itself.

“Le recours doit être introduit sous peine de forclusion dans les cinq jours de la date de la proclamation du résultat”

Article 191 establishes that official proclamation of definitive results is performed by the competent court 'within the deadline provided by texts specific to each category of election' (dans le délai prévu par les textes spécifiques à chaque catégorie d'élection). This creates a framework for certification timing but delegates the actual deadline to category-specific legislation rather than codifying it directly in this organic law. The criterion requires the certification deadline to be 'set by statute, not by administrative discretion.' While this provision anchors certification in law (not pure discretion), it does not establish a fixed deadline within the statute itself—instead, it incorporates deadlines by reference to other texts. This represents partial satisfaction: there is a statutory commitment to deadline-driven certification, but the specific deadline is not stated in the present statute, creating potential ambiguity about access to the precise rule.

Article 534 establishes that the General Council (Consejo General) shall deliver certificates of majority and issue a declaration of election validity, creating a statutory mechanism for certification. However, the section does not specify a precise deadline for when this certification must occur—only that it happens and that results are subsequently communicated to the electoral courts. The provision addresses the *act* of certification but not the *timing* requirement. Paragraph 3 establishes a deadline for dispute resolution (three days before Senate convenes) but this is a post-certification deadline for challenging the validity declaration, not the certification deadline itself. The absence of an explicit statutory deadline (e.g., 'within X days of the election') means certification timing is not fully codified and may remain subject to administrative discretion regarding when the General Council acts.

The section establishes a clear 30-day deadline for filing an election contest petition, measured from when 'the official announcement of the election result is issued by the secretary of state.' However, the criterion asks whether the CERTIFICATION DEADLINE itself (when the result becomes official) is set by statute. This section does not codify when the secretary of state must issue the official announcement or what triggers it—only that the contest deadline runs 30 days thereafter. The statute references 'official announcement' and 'certified by the secretary of state' without defining the timing mechanism for either event. Thus the section provides procedural timing for contests but does not actually specify the statutory certification deadline itself. For qualification contests, it references 'thirty days after the results of the general election have been certified by the secretary of state,' again presupposing certification timing without codifying it.

“Not later than thirty days after the official announcement of the election result is issued by the secretary of state”

Montana's results become official through the canvassing boards — § 13-15-405 has the county board declare and certify results, and the board of state canvassers must meet within 27 days of the election (§ 13-15-502); the surfaced county-certification section does not itself state a fixed day-count deadline.

The statute establishes a minimum timeline (no earlier than the eighth day after voting) but uses discretionary language ('zo spoedig mogelijk' — 'as soon as possible') for the actual certification deadline itself. This creates a floor but not a ceiling. The statute mandates minimum delay and requires public proceedings with opportunity for oral objections, establishing procedural clarity about *when* and *how* certification occurs. However, the absence of a fixed maximum deadline leaves the ultimate certification timing to administrative judgment within the constraint of expedited process. This satisfies the procedural transparency requirement partially: the minimum threshold is codified and the process is structured, but the definitive certification moment is not fixed by statute, only bounded below.

“Het centraal stembureau stelt de uitslag van de verkiezing zo spoedig mogelijk vast doch niet eerder dan de achtste dag nadat de stemming heeft plaatsgevonden.”

This section specifies a mechanism for declaring a candidate elected following a recount (with a conditional appeal process to the ballot law commission), and mandates issuance of a certificate within 10 days if the recount applicant wins. However, it does not establish a statutory deadline for the *initial* certification of the election result itself—i.e., when the secretary of state must complete the canvass and declare a result before any recount is requested. The section addresses post-recount certification timing and procedures, but does not codify the primary certification deadline that would satisfy TIME.1. Cross-reference to RSA 665:8 is required to assess whether a complete statutory certification scheme exists, but this excerpt alone does not set forth the certification deadline required by the criterion.

“If the recount shall show that some candidate other than the one declared elected upon the original canvass of votes has the greatest number of votes cast for the office, the secretary of state shall declare said candidate to be elected; and, unless the result is changed upon an appeal taken to the ballot law commission, as provided in RSA 665:8, II, such candidate shall be entitled to a certificate of election.”

Section 19:22-8 prescribes the ceremony and process of certification (preparation, gubernatorial signature, attestation, sealing, delivery to elector college president) and references 'the day and at the time and place appointed for the meeting of such college.' However, the statute does not specify an absolute deadline date for certification independent of the Electoral College meeting schedule. The phrase 'on the day and at the time and place appointed for the meeting of such college' anchors certification timing to a federally determined event (the Electoral College meeting, set by federal law for the second Tuesday after the second Monday in December), not to a state-specific statutory deadline. This creates temporal clarity for purposes of federal proceedings but does not establish a state-law certification deadline that could govern prompt dispute resolution or trigger statutory stay mechanisms for pending contests. The provision satisfies procedural clarity regarding the certification process itself but fails to establish an independent statutory deadline that would answer TIME.1 completely. The reference to the National Popular Vote agreement (subsection c) adds conditional language but does not clarify state-law certification timing.

“The secretary shall prepare a general certificate of the election of such electors, and lay the same before the Governor, who shall sign his name thereto, in the presence of such secretary, which the secretary shall attest by signing his name thereto, and shall thereupon affix the seal of the State thereto, and deliver the same to the president of the college of electors of this State, on the day and at the time and place appointed for the meeting of such college”

§ 539 codifies a 30-day post-election reporting deadline from the county BOE to the bureau — partial certification timing (specific to the report to the Department's bureau). The full certification framework requires § 1404 (canvass start) and § 1407 (appeals) for the timeline.

“within thirty (30) days after a primary, municipal, special or general election”

The statute prescribes that a certificate of election shall be issued, but does not establish a firm deadline for certification. The phrase 'as soon as it can do so consistent with its other duties' delegates timing to administrative discretion rather than codifying a specific deadline (e.g., days after recount completion or a fixed calendar date). The section does establish a 7-day deadline for petitioning for a recount, which satisfies procedural timing for that step, but fails to codify when the result becomes official via certificate issuance. This leaves the critical certification moment subject to administrative judgment rather than statutory clarity.

“After the completion of the recount, and as soon as it can do so consistent with its other duties, the state board shall issue a certificate of election”

The section provides a certification deadline relative to the hearing (immediately after conclusion), but does not establish an absolute statutory deadline for when certification must occur. The phrase 'forthwith certify' and 'the committee shall remain in session until a conclusion has been reached' indicate that certification happens promptly after the hearing, but the hearing itself is scheduled 'on Thursday following the deadline for filing' without specifying an outer deadline if the hearing extends beyond that date or circumstances delay resolution. The statute thus creates a procedural sequence requiring prompt action but lacks a fixed calendar deadline (e.g., 'by 5 p.m. on day X'). This satisfies the procedural clarity expectation partially—there is a clear trigger and directive to certify, but not an explicit statutory date that makes the result 'official' if the deadline is not met.

“Upon the conclusion of the hearing of the protest the committee shall determine all issues by majority vote and forthwith certify the results of the election.”

§ 146.029 codifies a statutory certification deadline — the certifying authority must deliver the write-in-candidate certification 'not later than the 68th day before election day.' The result-canvass deadlines (the local canvass between the 3rd and 14th day after election day, and the state canvass) are codified in Ch. 67; TIME.1's FTS surfaced candidate-certification deadlines rather than the result-canvass provisions, so the result-certification deadline is evidenced only by cross-reference.

52 USC § 21112 codifies state-based administrative complaint procedures with 90-day final-determination deadline — applies to election-grievance complaints, not the certification of results. Touches statutory timing in a related area.

§ 2663 codifies a 10-day certification deadline for a municipal clerk to certify a vote result to the Secretary of State (in the context of a legislative act that takes effect on municipal acceptance). The general canvass and issuance of certificates of election is codified at § 2592 (canvassing committees). A statutory certification deadline is codified, though the result-canvass timing is cross-referenced.

The statute requires the State Board to issue certificates 'without delay,' which establishes a deadline principle, but 'without delay' is not a specific temporal deadline fixed by statute. A true satisfaction of TIME.1 would require a definite date or number of days (e.g., 'within 10 days'). The phrase 'without delay' confers discretion on the State Board to interpret what constitutes prompt action, rather than codifying a clear, measurable deadline. This is superior to complete silence on certification timing, but inferior to a statutory deadline with a fixed calendar date or day count. The reference to § 24.2-948.2 suggests a possible carve-out for requirements elsewhere in statute, but this section itself does not establish a specific certification deadline.

“the State Board shall without delay complete and transmit to each of the persons declared to be elected a certificate of his election”

This section establishes a statutory tie-breaking procedure with a 30-day deadline for board of canvassers action before gubernatorial intervention, and requires the Governor to certify the result. However, it addresses only the narrow circumstance of tied votes at the canvassing stage, not the general certification deadline for all election results. The section does not establish when the overall election result becomes official or when results must be certified to state authorities—it only specifies what happens if a tie remains unbroken after 30 days. A complete answer to TIME.1 would require a statute setting the statewide certification deadline (e.g., 'the Governor shall certify election results within X days of the election'). This section satisfies the timing component only for the specific tie-breaking procedure, not for the broader certification deadline criterion.

“in the event the board of canvassers shall have failed to decide the tie within thirty days after such tie shall have been found by them to exist, upon application to the Governor by any one of such persons so voted for, he shall break the tie by the selection of one of such persons and shall certify his choice to such board of canvassers and declare such person duly elected”

The statute specifies that certification occurs 'immediately after' the polls close and that results 'shall be certified' to the clerk. This establishes a certification procedure and trigger. However, the criterion requires a specific DEADLINE for when results become official—a fixed date or timeframe (e.g., 'by 5 p.m. on election day' or 'within three business days'). The phrase 'immediately after' is temporal but discretionary and lacks the statutory precision expected for procedural clarity. The section does not specify when certification is complete or when results formally become 'official' for contest/challenge purposes. The statute addresses bond-election ballots specifically, not general election certification timelines, further limiting its applicability to the broader certification deadline criterion.

“Immediately after the closing of the polls, the counting board shall proceed to count the ballots. The results disclosed by the count shall be certified by the counting board to the clerk of the political subdivision.”

No candidate sections returned by FTS.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Section 17 of the PRC Village Organization Law establishes timing rules for publication of voter registration lists (20 days before election day) and dispute resolution over those lists (5-day challenge window, 3-day committee decision deadline). However, these are procedural deadlines for voter list challenges, not certification deadlines for election results themselves. The section does not address when election results become official or certified. Certification timing—the moment at which vote tabulation results gain legal finality—is not addressed in this provision. To satisfy TIME.1, the statute must specify when results transition from preliminary to certified/official status. This section concerns only pre-election list verification, not post-election result certification.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: This statute codifies a NOMINATION/FILING deadline (62 days before election) for minor party candidates, not an ELECTION RESULT CERTIFICATION deadline. The criterion TIME.1 asks whether the deadline for when election results become 'official' is set by statute. This section addresses when party nominations must be certified and filed, which is part of pre-election candidacy procedures, not the post-election certification of results. The statute does specify precise timing (62 days, with a rule that late filings are 'invalid'), but it operates in the nomination phase, not the results certification phase. The question of when election results themselves must be officially certified to become binding is not addressed in this section.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 42 describes the process and actors responsible for certifying election results (state electoral committee's preliminary determination, federal electoral committee's final determination), but does not establish a binding statutory deadline by which certification must occur. The provision specifies what must be done and in what sequence, but not when it must be completed. A certification deadline would require explicit temporal language (e.g., 'within X days' or 'by [specific date]'). Without such a deadline, certification timing remains subject to administrative discretion regarding when the federal electoral committee will complete its work, even if the procedural steps themselves are codified.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Article 43 of Cap. 354 addresses the registrar's duty to forward certificates regarding Electoral Register revisions (additions, deletions, corrections) to the Election Commission within a timeframe ('without delay'), but does not establish a statutory deadline for CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS. The section governs pre-election register maintenance, not post-election result certification timing. The criterion requires a codified deadline specifying when election results officially become certified. This provision does not satisfy that requirement, as it concerns electoral roll administration rather than result finalization and certification deadlines.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: This statute addresses the timing and procedures for state political party conventions, including the nomination of candidates and selection of presidential electors. It does not address election certification deadlines—that is, the date by which election officials must declare election results official after voting has occurred. The section governs internal party procedures (convention timing, platform formulation, elector selection) but does not set a statutory deadline for when election results become certified and official. TIME.1 requires a statute that fixes when election certification occurs (the formal declaration that results are official), not when party conventions must be held. This section fails to address the substantive criterion.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Constitution Article 203 — constitutional amendment procedure. Not certification deadline.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: § 2-17-114 prescribes WHERE judgments must be certified (to the secretary of state, tribunal, deciding body, or vacancy-filling authority) but does NOT establish a statutory deadline for when certification must occur or when the result becomes official. The statute addresses the routing and recipients of certification, not the timing constraint. This is a procedural routing rule, not a timing requirement. To satisfy TIME.1, the statute would need to specify that certification must occur within a defined period (e.g., 'within 5 days' or 'immediately upon judgment'). Without such a deadline, certification timing remains subject to administrative discretion or court practice.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: Section 155 of the RPA 1983 addresses cost sanctions and recognisance forfeit procedures in election petitions—specifically, consequences for petitioners who fail to pay witness costs or respondent costs within specified periods (6 months for parliamentary elections, 3 months for local government elections). This section does not codify a certification deadline—that is, it does not establish when election results become official or when certification must occur. It is entirely procedural, governing remedies for non-payment during dispute resolution. To satisfy TIME.1, the statute must specify when the returning officer or electoral authority must certify the result as official. Section 155 contains no such provision.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: UCA § 20A-6-106 establishes a deadline for SUBMISSION of ballot titles to the election officer, not a deadline for when election RESULTS become officially certified. The criterion TIME.1 asks whether the certification deadline (when results become 'official') is set by statute. This statute addresses ballot title submission procedures in the pre-election phase, which is procedurally distinct from result certification occurring after voting concludes. While the statute does establish a specific, codified deadline, it does not address the statutory deadline for certification of election results—the substantive question the criterion targets. This appears to regulate ballot measure title preparation rather than election result certification timing.