Press/Journalists

2024 Electoral College Press Kit

The Electoral College is the process that governs the election of the President and Vice President of the United States. This process is part of the Constitution. The term “electoral college” does not appear in the Constitution. Article II of the Constitution and the 12th Amendment refer to “electors,” but not to the “electoral college.” The processes of the Electoral College are established in Title 3 of the United States Code. The Office of the Federal Register (OFR), on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, administers the Electoral College process.

“As the nation’s record keeper, the National Archives plays an important nonpartisan administrative role in managing the Electoral College, stewarding states through the process, and ensuring that the Certificates of Ascertainment and the Certificates of Vote are properly received and shared with the public,”

Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan

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Certificate of Ascertainment for 1792 election

Visit Flickr for a selection of National Archives images related to the Electoral College.

The Certificate of Ascertainment (appointment of electors) signed by Josiah Bartlett, President (Governor) of the State of New Hampshire, who certified that he, John Pickering, Benjamin Bellows, Ebenezer Thompson, Jonathan Freeman and John Gilman were duly appointed Electors for President and Vice President in the 1792 presidential election.

View in National Archives Catalog

The OFR, part of the National Archives and Records Administration, was created in 1935. It provides access to the official text of federal laws, Presidential documents, administrative regulations, and more, in addition to administering the Electoral College process. Through this work, the OFR helps inform citizens of their rights and obligations, documents the actions of federal agencies, and provides a forum for public participation in the democratic process.

The OFR's role in the Electoral College begins with sending instructions to the governments of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Over the following months, the OFR will receive and review Certificates of Ascertainment and Certificates of Vote for facial sufficiency. Administrative staff from the House and Senate meet with OFR staff to inspect the Certificates of Vote in late December.

If any state’s certificate fails to reach the President of the Senate, the President of the Senate calls on the OFR to deliver duplicate originals in its possession to complete the set held by Congress. Congress meets in a joint session in the House of Representatives on January 6 to count the electoral votes.

After Congress has met in a joint session for the official counting of electoral votes, all Certificates of Ascertainment and Certificates of Vote remain available for public inspection at the OFR for one year and then are transferred to NARA for permanent retention.

For detailed information on the Electoral College, FAQs, and historical information, please see the Electoral College web pages.

Certificate of Ascertainment: After the general election on November 5, 2024, each state's Executive prepares a Certificate of Ascertainment listing the names of all the individuals on the slates for each candidate. The Certificate of Ascertainment also lists the number of votes each individual received and shows which individuals were appointed as the state's electors. The state’s Certificate of Ascertainment is sent to the National Archives (NARA) as part of the official records of the Presidential election.

Certificate of Vote: On December 17, 2024, the electors meet in their respective states, where they cast their votes for President and Vice President on separate ballots. Each state’s electors’ votes are recorded on a Certificate of Vote, which is prepared at the meeting by the electors. The Certificate of Vote is sent to the United States Congress, where the votes are counted, and to NARA, as part of the official records of the Presidential election. Each state also keeps one set for its permanent records and creates three backup sets.

Facial sufficiency: OFR examines the certificates to make sure they contain all statutorily required elements and do not contain typographical errors.

Summary Timeline of Key Dates for 2024–25

November 5, 2024: Election Day
December 11, 2024: Deadline by which all states have issued Certificates of Ascertainment
December 17, 2024: Electors vote in their states
December 25, 2024: Deadline by which Certificates of Vote (electoral votes) arrive at their required destinations: Congress, NARA, the Secretary of State for the State that created them, and the Chief Judge for the Federal District court where the electors met.
December 27, 2024: House and Senate staff meet with OFR staff to inspect the Certificates (tentative, assuming Congress not in session)
January 6, 2025: Congress counts the electoral votes
January 20, 2025: Inauguration Day

National Archives Resources

National Archives’ Electoral College website

Blog on the National Archives and the Electoral College

Blog on Amending the Electoral College: The 12th Amendment

Blog on the 1824 Presidential Election and the “Corrupt Bargain”

Resources for educators

Additional Resources

For contact information and web addresses for the Secretary of State from each state and the District of Columbia, go to the National Secretaries of State website.

Are you a member of the media who would like more information on the Electoral College? For media inquiries, please contact the National Archives Public and Media Communications staff via email at public.affairs@nara.gov or by phone at 202-357-5300.

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