back in our office by next friday, the 22nd. the earliest that the vote can be certified will be the 26th of december and the latest will be january the third. so within that window, there are a number of things that have to be processed and executed by the local offices and each one of the 67 counties, as well as our office, the office of the secretary of state. we need to make sure that everything is done according to plan, to ensure that the integrity and preservation of the credibility of this process is secure. >> shannon: okay. the man we now think is a senator elect, not officially without your certification, but doug jones, appears to have one tonight, the democrat. he's got a lot waiting for him tonight but just so folks are reminded, this is essentially a two-year term for him as he fills the sea that was vacated by jeff sessions when he became the attorney general. you know, two years outcome a lot of people are already running for the seat. how do you think this will play out? this has been one of the most unusual, raucous campaigns that we have seen in a long time and