3 U.S.C. § 5 Certificate of Ascertainment of Appointment of Electors

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-34 (published on www.congress.gov on 12/26/2023), except for [P. L. 118-31]
• Year: 2023
• Citation: 3 U.S.C. § 5

(a) IN GENERAL.-

(1) CERTIFICATION.-Not later than the date that is 6 days before the time fixed for the meeting of the electors, the executive of each State shall issue a certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors, under and in pursuance of the laws of such State providing for such appointment and ascertainment enacted prior to election day.

(2) FORM OF CERTIFICATE.-Each certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors shall-

(A) set forth the names of the electors appointed and the canvass or other determination under the laws of such State of the number of votes given or cast for each person for whose appointment any and all votes have been given or cast;

(B) bear the seal of the State; and

(C) contain at least one security feature, as determined by the State, for purposes of verifying the authenticity of such certificate.

(b) TRANSMISSION.-It shall be the duty of the executive of each State-

(1) to transmit to the Archivist of the United States, immediately after the issuance of a certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors and by the most expeditious method available, such certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors; and

(2) to transmit to the electors of such State, on or before the day on which the electors are required to meet under section 7, six duplicate-originals of the same certificate.

(c) TREATMENT OF CERTIFICATE AS CONCLUSIVE.-For purposes of section 15:

(1) IN GENERAL.-

(A) CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY EXECUTIVE.-Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors issued pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall be treated as conclusive in Congress with respect to the determination of electors appointed by the State.

(B) CERTIFICATES ISSUED PURSUANT TO COURT ORDERS.-Any certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors required to be issued or revised by any State or Federal judicial relief granted prior to the date of the meeting of electors shall replace and supersede any other certificates submitted pursuant to this section.

(2) DETERMINATION OF FEDERAL QUESTIONS.-The determination of Federal courts on questions arising under the Constitution or laws of the United States with respect to a certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors shall be conclusive in Congress.

(d) VENUE AND EXPEDITED PROCEDURE.-

(1) IN GENERAL.-Any action brought by an aggrieved candidate for President or Vice President that arises under the Constitution or laws of the United States with respect to the issuance of the certification required under section (a)(1), or the transmission of such certification as required under subsection (b), shall be subject to the following rules: