State‑level certification is the decisive legal act by which a state declares final results for federal and state offices and appoints presidential electors. Secretaries of state, governors, and state boards of canvassers are obligated to ensure that statutory requirements—such as complete returns, proper chain‑of‑custody documentation, and compliance with state constitutional provisions—are satisfied before issuing certifications.

This subsection analyzes state certification practices in the 2020 cycle, emphasizing instances where officials certified results despite acknowledged deficiencies in records (e.g., missing precinct return sheets, absent chain‑of‑custody documents), ongoing investigations, or judicial findings that later called key election‑law changes into question. It also reviews representations made by state officials to Congress and the public regarding the completeness and integrity of their certifications and compares those statements to subsequent audit and investigative findings.