Recounts and legal challenges could threaten a state’s ability to meet the deadline. This is known as the “safe harbor” deadline.
This year, the deadline to choose electors to ensure their votes are counted by Congress is Dec. States must appoint their electors before the Electoral College meets to formally cast its votes. In North Carolina, the independent State Board of Elections could get the final word.Īnd in every state, the legislature can step into the process to choose electors. In Texas, the governor has the sole authority to settle presidential election disputes. In some states, members of the executive branch or other bodies have a say. Results contested: Disputes over whether election officials are counting too many ballots or too few could set off a wave of litigation in both state and federal courts that could ultimately find its way to the Supreme Court. In the 2000 presidential election, a narrow margin in Florida triggered a recount in all counties, and Al Gore later filed suit to force hand recounts in four predominantly Democratic counties. In other states like Iowa and Nevada, candidates can request a recount regardless of the margin.
Recount: In some states, like Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the state initiates an automatic recount if the unofficial voting margin is close.
