|
Alabama
|
State legislative offices
|
Must be commenced in county circuit court within 20 days after results certified or re-certified in the event of a recount (17-16-49).
|
Not specified.
|
| Alabama |
Constitutional offices
|
Must be filed with the speaker of the House within 10 days after the Speaker has proclaimed the results (17-16-63).
|
Not specified.
|
|
Alaska
|
All offices
|
Action may be brought in the superior court within 10 days after the completion of the state review. (15.20.550)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Arizona
|
All offices
|
Must be filed within five days of the completion of the canvass and certification of results. (16-673).
|
Not specified.
|
|
Arkansas
|
Offices certified at county level
|
Must be filed within 20 days of certification. (7-5-801)
|
Not specified.
|
| Arkansas |
Legislative and executive offices
|
Contests for legislative and executive offices are conducted by the legislature. Legislative contests must be filed within 15 days of certification by the county board. (7-5-805)
|
Not specified.
|
| Arkansas |
All other offices
|
No deadlines are specified (7-5-806)
|
Not specified.
|
|
California
|
Presidential electors
|
Within 10 days after the declaration of results of the election or the declaration of the results of the post-election risk-limiting audit. (Elec. 16401(c)).
|
Not specified.
|
| California |
All other offices
|
Within 30 days after the declaration of results of the election or the declaration of the results of the post-election risk-limiting audit. (Elec. 16401(d))
|
Not specified.
|
|
Colorado
|
Presidential electors
|
The supreme court has original jurisdiction for the adjudication of contests and shall prescribe rules for practice and proceedings for such contests [1-11-204)
|
Not specified.
|
| Colorado |
State officers
|
Notice of intention to contest the election must be filed with the secretary of state between the sixth and 10th legislative days of the first session of the General Assembly after the day of the election. (1-11-205(1)
|
Not specified.
|
| Colorado |
State legislator
|
Notice of intention to contest the election must be filed with the secretary of state within 10 days of the completion of the official abstract of votes. (1-11-208)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Connecticut
|
Presidential electors and members of Congress
|
Complaint must be filed within 14 days after the election, or if it relates to the manual tabulation of paper ballots, within seven days after that is completed. Court may order a recount as part of their process. (9-323)
|
Court must certify results of their finding to the secretary of state before the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. Court may order a new election as part of their finding. (9-323)
|
| Connecticut |
All other offices
|
Complaint must be filed within 14 days after the election, or if it relates to the manual tabulation of paper ballots, within seven days after that is completed. (9-324)
|
Court must certify results of their finding to the secretary of state by Dec. 15. (9-324)
|
|
Delaware
|
Presidential electors
|
Intent to contest must be filed within 10 days of the proclamation of the governor. (15 Del. C. 5921)
|
Not specified.
|
| Delaware |
State legislators
|
Intent to contest must be filed at least 20 days before the meeting of the General Assembly. (15 Del. C. 5901)
|
Not specified.
|
| Delaware |
All other Offices
|
Intent to contest must be filed within 20 days after the result of the canvass has been official ascertained. (15 Del. C. 5945)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Florida
|
State legislators
|
The certification of election of any person to the office of member of either house of the legislature may only be contested in the applicable house by an unsuccessful candidate for such office, in accordance with the rules of that house.
|
Not specified.
|
| Florida |
All other offices
|
Complaint must be filed within 10 days after midnight of the date the last board responsible for certifying the results officially certifies the results of the election being contested. (102.168)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Georgia
|
All offices
|
Petition must be filed within five days after the official consolidation of the returns for that office, or within five days after the official consolidation of the returns following a recount. (21-2-524)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Hawaii
|
All offices
|
Complaint must be filed no later than 4:30 p.m. on the 20th day following the election. (11-174.5)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Idaho
|
All offices
|
Must be filed within 20 days after the votes are canvassed. (34-2008 and 34-2108)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Illinois
|
All offices
|
Must be filed within 15 days of the official proclamation of results. (10 ILCS 5/23-1.2a)
|
The determination of the contest shall be made as soon as practicable. (10 ILCS 5/23-1.12a)
|
|
Indiana
|
Presidential electors
|
A candidate must file no later than noon, 14 days after Election Day. The chair of a state or county political party must file no later than noon, 17 days after Election Day. . (3-12-11-2) A recount certificate is made and signed upon completion; it supersedes all previous returns. (3-12-11-19)
|
As required under 3 U.S.C. 5, any recount or contest proceeding concerning the election of presidential electors must be concluded not later than six. (6) days before the time fixed by federal law for the meeting of the presidential electors. (3-12-11-19.5)
|
| Indiana |
Governor and lieutenant governor
|
Contests are determined by the General Assembly. (Const. Art. V, §6)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Iowa
|
Presidential electors and members of Congress
|
Must be filed within two days from the day on which the returns are canvassed by the state board of canvassers. (60.4)
|
Trials for contests of presidential and congressional elections must be conducted such that a final determination and judgment shall be rendered at least six days before the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December. (60.5)
|
| Iowa |
Governor and lieutenant governor
|
Notice must be filed with presiding officers of each house of the General Assembly within 30 days after the proclamation of the result of the election. (58.1)
|
Not specified.
|
| Iowa |
Other state officers
|
Must be filed with clerk within 30 days after the incumbent was declared elected. (61.3)
|
The time for the trial of any contest relative to a state office shall not be set beyond the last Monday in January following the election. (61.9)
|
| Iowa |
State legislators
|
Notice must be served upon the incumbent prior to 20 days before the start of the next legislative session, and delivered to the secretary of state within five days after that. (59.1)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Kansas
|
All offices
|
The notice of contest shall be filed within five days after the certificate of election is issued. (25-1439)
|
If the contest is for state senate or house of representatives, the judge must hold a hearing within 20 days after notice has been filed. (25-1446). The matter is tried as a civil action. Not specified for other offices.
|
|
Kentucky
|
Governor and lieutenant governor
|
The notice shall be given within 30 days after the final action of the State Board of Elections. (120.195(2)). Contest is heard by the General Assembly in the next session after the election. (120.205)
|
Not specified.
|
| Kentucky |
State legislator
|
The notice shall be given within 15 days after the final action of the county board of elections or the State Board of Elections, whichever canvasses the returns. (120.195(2)) Contest is heard by the General Assembly. (120.215)
|
Not specified.
|
| Kentucky |
All Other State, County, District and City Offices
|
The petition shall be filed in the circuit court of the county where the contestee resides within 30 days after the day of election. (120.155) If the contest includes a request for a recount, it must be filed within 10 days of the election. (120.185)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Louisiana
|
All offices
|
Must be filed no later than 4:30 p.m. on the ninth day after the election (18:1405) in the district court of the parish where the state capitol is located for statewide offices, or of the parish where the district is located (18:1404).
|
Not specified.
|
|
Maine
|
All offices
|
Not specified.
|
Not specified.
|
|
Maryland
|
All offices
|
Within the earlier of 10 days after the act or omission became known to the petitioner or seven days after the election. (Elec. 12-202)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Massachusetts
|
All offices
|
Within 30 days of the election. (54 § 134)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Michigan
|
All offices
|
Not specified.
|
Not specified.
|
|
Minnesota
|
All offices
|
Within seven days after the canvass is completed. (209.021) Time for notice of a contest for an office which is recounted pursuant to this section shall begin to run upon certification of the results of the recount by the canvassing board. (204C.35, Subdiv. 1(d))
|
Not specified.
|
|
Mississippi
|
All offices
|
Within 20 days after the election. (23-15-951)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Missouri
|
Presidential electors
|
All contested elections for presidential electors shall be determined by a joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly. (128.100)
|
Not specified.
|
| Missouri |
All other offices
|
Not later than 30 days after the official announcement of the election result by the secretary of state. (115.557 and .577)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Montana
|
All offices
|
Five days after certification. (13-36-102)
|
Any action to contest the right of a candidate to be declared elected to an office must, unless a different time is stated, be commenced within 1 year after the day of election at which the offense was committed. (13-36-102(2)).
|
|
Nebraska
|
State officers
|
Within 40 days after the election. (32-1102)
|
Not specified.
|
| Nebraska |
Officers of political subdivisions of the state
|
Within 20 days after the official canvass. (32-1109)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Nevada
|
All offices
|
Must be filed no later than five days after a recount is completed, or if no recount was conducted, within 14 days after the election. (293.413)
|
Not specified.
|
|
New Hampshire
|
State legislators
|
Must be filed on or before Dec. 15. (660:18)
|
Not specified.
|
| New Hampshire |
Other offices
|
Not specified.
|
|
|
New Jersey
|
All offices
|
Not later than 32 days after the election, unless the ground of action is discovered in campaign finance filings, in which case a petition may be filed 32 days after such campaign finance document is filed. Any petition of contest may be filed within 12 days after the results of a recount are determined or announced. (19:29-3)
|
Not specified.
|
|
New Mexico
|
All offices
|
No later than 30 days after the issuance of the certificate of election. (1-14-3)
|
Not specified.
|
|
New York
|
Not specified.
|
|
|
|
North Carolina
|
All offices
|
If the protest concerns how votes were counted or results tabulated, must be filed before the beginning of the county canvass meeting; if the protest concerns how votes were counted or results tabulated and states good cause for delay in filing: 5 p.m. on the second business day after the county has completed its canvass and certified results. (163-182.9)
Contests for council of state offices and state legislators must be filed with the clerk of the House within 10 days of the issuance of the certificate of election (120-10.3)
|
Not specified.
|
|
North Dakota
|
Presidential electors
|
Must be filed by 4 p.m. on the 10th day after the governor’s proclamation of the vote. (16.1-14-09)
|
The time fixed for the hearing must be not less than three and not more than 15 days from the filing of the petition, but no completion deadline is specified. (16.1-14-10)
|
| North Dakota |
All other offices
|
Must be filed within five days after the final certification of a recount, or if no recount is conducted, within 14 days after final certification. (16.1-16-04)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Ohio
|
All offices
|
Must be filed within 15 days after the results have been ascertained and announced by the proper authority, or if there is a recount, within 10 days after the results of the recount have been ascertained and announced by the proper authority. (3515.09)
|
Date for hearing shall be not less than 15 nor more than 30 days after the petition is filed. (3515.10). Court may allow adjournments for not more than 30 days, for the benefit of either party, on such terms as to costs and otherwise as seem reasonable to the court, the grounds for such adjournment being shown by affidavit. The hearing shall proceed expeditiously and the total of such adjournments shall not exceed 30 days after the date set for the original hearing. (3515.11)
|
|
Oklahoma
|
All offices
|
Procedures specified but dates not specified. (26 Okl.St.Ann. § 8-118)
|
|
|
Oregon
|
All offices
|
Petition must be filed with the circuit court of Marion County in the case of statewide races, or with the circuit court of the county where a majority of electors in the district reside, no later than the 40th day after the election or the seventh day after the completion of a recount. (258.036)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
All offices
|
Petition must be filed within 20 days after the election. (25 PSA 3456)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Rhode Island
|
Not specified.
|
|
|
|
South Carolina
|
All offices
|
Appeal of a decision by a county board to a state board must be filed by the Monday after the decision was made. (7-17-60)
|
Must be heard no later than the Monday 14 days after it was filed. (7-17-70); deadline for completion not specified.
|
| South Carolina |
All offices
|
Protests and contests arising from elections for federal and state officers, state legislative offices, and multi-county offices must be filed by noon not more than five days after the canvass for that office. (7-17-260)
|
Must be heard not earlier than the fifth day or later than the 25th day following receipt of the protest. No end date is specified. (7-17-270)
|
|
South Dakota
|
All offices
|
Must be initiated within 10 days after the completion of the canvass, or within five days after the announcement of the result of any recount. (12-22-5)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Tennessee
|
Presidential electors
|
Must be filed within 10 days of the election. (2-17-103)
|
Shall be decided finally and unreviewably before the last day of November by the presidential electors tribunal composed of the governor, secretary of state and attorney general and reporter. (2-17-103)
|
| Tennessee |
All other offices
|
Must be filed within five days after certification of the election. (2-17-105)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Texas
|
Presidential electors
|
Must be filed not later than the 10th day after the date the election records are publicly available under 1.012 or the official result is determined. (Elec. 243.003)
|
The governor shall determine the outcome of the contested election and render the decision not later than the seventh day before the date set by law for the meeting of the electors. (Elec. 243.012)
|
| Texas |
State officers and state legislators
|
Must be filed with the secretary of state not later than the later of the seventh day after the date the election records are publicly available under Section 1.012 or the official result of the contested election is determined. (Elec. 241.003) Contest is heard by the legislature.
|
Not specified.
|
| Texas |
All other offices
|
Must be filed within 30 days of the election, unless the election at issue is a primary or runoff primary, or a general or special election for which an election is necessary, in which case the challenge must be filed no later than 10 days after the election records are publicly available (232.008)
|
Not specified, although statutes provide for expedited judicial processes (232.012).
|
|
Utah
|
All offices
|
Must be filed within 40 days after the canvass. (20A-4-403)
|
Not specified. Must be resolved no more than 30 days from the date the petition was filed. (20A-4-401(1)(b)(ii)).
|
|
Vermont
|
All offices
|
Complaint must be filed with a superior court within 15 days of election, or if there is a recount, within 10 days after court issues judgment on recount. (17 VSA 2603(c))
|
Not specified.
|
|
Virginia
|
Presidential electors
|
Notice of intent must be filed no later than 5 p.m. on the second calendar day after the day the State Board certifies the result of the election under 24.2-679. (24.2-805)
|
The contest of elections for presidential electors shall not wait upon the results of any recount and the proceedings shall be held promptly and completed, in accordance with the provisions of 3 USC 5, at least six days before the time fixed for the meeting of the electors. (24.2-805)
|
| Virginia |
All other offices
|
Must be filed within 30 days after the election. (24.2-808, or within 10 days following the entry of the order of a recount court, if the contest follows a recount). (24.2-814)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Washington
|
All offices
|
No later than 10 days following the official certification of the election. (29A.68.013)
|
Not specified.
|
| Washington |
State officers and state legislators
|
Must be filed within 10 days of certification. (3-7-1)
|
Not specified.
|
|
West Virginia
|
All offices
|
Contestant must give notice to the person whose election is contested within 10 days after the election is certified (3-7-1)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Wisconsin
|
All offices
|
No contest procedure; however, the results of a recount may be appealed to circuit court within five days after the recount is completed (9.01(6))
|
Not specified.
|
|
Wyoming
|
Presidential electors and state legislators
|
Within five days of certification of the results by the state canvassing board. (22-17-114)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Wyoming
|
State legislators
|
Within 30 days of certification by the state canvassing board. (22-17-110)
|
Not specified.
|
|
Wyoming
|
All other offices
|
Must be filed within 14 days of certification by the canvassing board. (22-17-102)
|
Not specified.
|