Virginia Counties Begin Official Count of Nov. 3 Election Results

Virginia election officials began the formal review of Tuesday's general election results on Monday. This legal step, known as canvassing, is required to certify the final outcome. The process involves examining voting equipment, materials, and initial tallies. Until this review concludes, results remain unofficial.

Secretary of State Kris Warner explained that the canvassing procedure ensures records are corrected and officially logged. County clerks and commissioners oversee the work. Candidates, party representatives, and members of the public may observe the proceedings. Warner stated that a county could only delay the start if it failed to assemble a quorum of commissioners.

Officials are hand-counting specific races during the canvassing sessions. These include write-in candidates for the U.S. Senate, state legislature, and local county commissions. Warner noted that these manual counts began at 9 a.m. on Monday. The results for every race will become official once the county completes its review, unless a formal challenge is filed.

Election staff across the state are working to finish the task quickly. Most of the 55 counties, which cover 1,643 voting precincts, aim to complete the canvassing by Friday. Once finished, officials must send their certified results to the Secretary of State's office. The deadline for transmitting these final certifications is December 3.

The canvassing period serves as the final verification step before the state certifies the election. It allows for the correction of minor errors and the inclusion of late-arriving ballots. The process ensures that the public record reflects the accurate will of the voters in each jurisdiction.