After a
presidential election, the ascertainment is submitted by the
governor of each state (and by the
mayor of the District of Columbia) to the
Archivist of the United States and others, in accordance with
3U.S.C.§§6–14 the
Electoral Count Act, The certificates must bear the
state seal and the governor's signature. Each state is free to choose the appearance and layout of the certificate. Staff from the
Office of the Federal Register ensure that each certificate contains all legally required information. States are required to produce either seven original certificates with two
certified copies, or nine original certificates; of these, one original and either two more originals or two copies, are sent to the Archivist via
registered mail or a commercial carrier. Both the
House and the
Senate receive one of the copies. which are then paired with the six remaining certificates of ascertainment. One pair of certificates is sent to the
president of the Senate; two pairs are sent to the Archivist; two pairs are sent via registered mail to the state's
secretary of state; and one pair is sent to the chief judge of the closest
United States district court. One of each of the two pairs sent to the Archivist and the secretary of state are designated for public inspection, while the others (and the chief judge's copy) are "held subject to the order of the President of the United States Senate". ==See also==