Among all the peculiarities of the American election, seen from our side of the Atlantic, the fact that the results are proclaimed by the media is not the least.
However, there as at home, it is the authorities who “certify” these results, the big difference being that each State has its own rules, its own calendar, and that all that therefore takes much more time.
There is nevertheless a deadline, and it is approaching: within 15 days, recalls the Politico site in a very practical calendar, the two states still unassigned, Georgia and North Carolina, and the four attributed to Biden but contested by the camp Trump, should have delivered their final verdict.
Unless a legal action succeeds, which is not won at the moment.
Georgia: results on November 20, probable week-long recount
What date of certification?
Once the accounts of each county have been certified, the state audits them and must validate them by November 20, said last week Gabriel Sterling, local official in charge of organizing the vote.
The recount rules:
If the defeated candidate is within 0.5% of the winner, he can ask for a recount, which Sterling plans to complete in "a week," according to the Politico site.
This recount, by hand, was officially launched this week.
The balance of power:
this state has not yet been awarded to one or the other of the candidates: on more than 99% of the ballots counted, Biden is in the lead of only 0.3%, with a little more than 12,000 votes ahead.
Michigan: verdict on November 23, recount unlikely
What date of certification?
Counties must have finished counting votes by Nov. 17, according to the State Department, which must certify them by Nov. 23.
The recount rules:
either it is automatic if there is less than 2000 votes of difference (which will not be the case), or the defeated candidate can request it within two days following the certification of the results, provided to prove that the errors or frauds relate to a number of ballots likely to reverse the result.
And he has to pay for the operation.
The balance of power:
this state was unanimously attributed to Joe Biden, with more than 2.7% difference, more than 140,000 votes difference.
Pennsylvania: results in ten days maximum, recount included
What date of certification?
Counties were required to submit their certified results by November 10, and the final date to validate them is November 23, according to the State Department's schedule.
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The recounting rules:
here again, it is automatic in the event of a difference of less than 0.5%, and must be launched in advance on the basis of non-certified results.
According to Politico, the authority in charge at the state level must order this recount before November 12, it must start before the 18th and end by the 24th.
The balance of power:
the state was attributed to Joe Biden, with 0.9% difference, which still represents more than 60,000 votes difference.
North Carolina: verdict on November 24, recount unlikely
What date of certification?
The counties must be finished counting by November 13, and the state must certify the results by the 24.
The recount rules:
the state electoral code gives the right to the candidate who came second to ask for one again if there is less than 0.5 point difference, or 10,000 votes.
Local authorities are also empowered to request one.
The balance of power:
Donald Trump should retain his advantage (50.0%) over Joe Biden (48.6%), or 75,000 votes.
Arizona: results certified at the end of the month
What date of certification?
Counties must certify their results between November 9 and 23, and the electoral code provides for a general certification of the results on the fourth Monday after the ballot, on November 30.
The recount rules:
an automatic recount is provided if the difference is less than 0.1% of the votes
The balance of power:
Joe Biden was declared the winner of this state by several American media on Friday, with 11,000 votes difference (0.3% difference) over Donald Trump.
Wisconsin: we will know on December 1, the drastic recount rules
What date of certification?
Counties must certify their results between November 10 and 17, and the state must then do so before December 1.
The recount rules:
a candidate can request one only after November 17, and within 24 hours, if the difference is less than 1 point.
This recount must begin within three days.
If the margin is greater than 0.25%, the applicant applicant pays for the operation.
The balance of power:
the state has been attributed to Joe Biden, with 0.7% difference, a little more than 20,000 votes ahead of Donald Trump.