Title 3, The PresidentRelease 119-102
§13 Same; Demand on District Judge for Certificate
Title 3 › CHAPTER 1 — PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND VACANCIES › § 13
Summary
If by the fourth Wednesday in December a State's certificate hasn't reached the capital, Senate President—or, if absent, Archivist—must send a messenger to the judge, who must immediately forward it.
Full Legal Text
Title 3, §13
The President, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
When, after the meeting of the electors shall have been held, no certificates of votes from any State shall have been received at the seat of government on the fourth Wednesday in December, the President of the Senate or, if the President of the Senate be absent from the seat of government, the Archivist of the United States shall send a special messenger to the district judge in whose custody one certificate of votes from that State has been lodged, and such judge shall forthwith transmit that certificate by the hand of such messenger to the seat of government.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Pub. L. 117–328 inserted “, after the meeting of the electors shall have been held,” after “When” and substituted “in December,” for “in December, after the meeting of the electors shall have been held,”, “or, if the President of the Senate be absent” for “or, if he be absent”, and “that certificate” for “that list”. 1984—Pub. L. 98–497 substituted “Archivist of the United States” for “Administrator of General Services”. 1951—Act Oct. 31, 1951, substituted “Administrator of General Services” for “Secretary of State”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–497 effective Apr. 1, 1985, see section 301 of Pub. L. 98–497, set out as a note under section 2102 of Title 44, Public Printing and Documents.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
3 U.S.C. § 13
Title 3, The President
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102