3 U.S.C. § 13 (2024)
This is the official text of 3 U.S.C. § 13 (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Same; demand on district judge for certificate
Official statutory text
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.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 644, 62 Stat. 674; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, §9, 65 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 98–497, title I, §107(e)(1), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2291; Pub. L. 117–328, div. P, title I, §108(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5237.)
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 Amendment
Amendment 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.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 644, 62 Stat. 674; Oct. 31, 1951, ch. 655, §9, 65 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 98–497, title I, §107(e)(1), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2291; Pub. L. 117–328, div. P, title I, §108(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5237.)
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 Amendment
Amendment 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.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Federal (US Code)?
Find a Federal (US Code) lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.