2 U.S.C. § 382 — Notice of contest

(a) Filing of notice. Anyone who ran for a House seat in the last election and wants to contest who won must file a written notice with the Clerk of the House, and also deliver a copy to the winning member (the "contestee"). This must happen within 30 days after the official result was declared by the officer or board in charge of counting votes. (b) Contents and form of notice. The notice must clearly state the specific reasons the contestant is challenging the election. It must also tell the contestee that an answer is due, under section 383, within 30 days after the contestee is served with the notice. The contestant must sign the notice and swear to it under oath or affirmation. (c) Service of notice; proof of service. The notice can be delivered to the contestee in any of these ways: (1) handed to the contestee in person; (2) left at the contestee's home with someone at least 16 years old who lives there; (3) left at the contestee's main office or business with whoever is in charge there; (4) handed to an agent the contestee has authorized to accept it; or (5) mailed by registered or certified mail to the contestee's home or main office — mailing alone completes this kind of service. (6) The person who delivered the notice can prove it happened by filing a sworn statement describing when and how they served it; if it was mailed, the registered or certified mail receipt proves service. The contestant must give the Clerk proof of service promptly, and always before the contestee's deadline to answer runs out. But if proof of service is late or missing, that alone doesn't undo a service that actually happened.