CANVASS Canvass defined in GS 163 182 5

CANVASS Canvass defined in GS 163 -182. 5 The entire process of determining the votes have been counted and tabulated correctly and resulting in the authentication of the official election results.

THE BOARD Conducting the canvass has authority: § To send for papers § To send for persons § To examine them § Pass on legality of disputed ballots

ELECTION NIGHT PRELIMINARY AUDIT PRECINCT OFFICIALS RETURNS TO YOUR CUSTODY § § All Precinct supplies Poll books & ATV forms Machine memory cartridges & tapes Ballots, all types – voted, unvoted, provisional, spoiled, ballot custody forms, etc.

Precinct Closing Audit Form § This is given to each precinct to make sure they complete everything

ELECTION NIGHT PRELIMINARY AUDIT § Use your Chain of Custody Forms – Have they returned all required items – Have they signed all required paperwork – We have several check-in stations that use different chain of custody forms and some items are barcoded and scanned

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS How does that play into canvass? We say UNOFFICIAL RESULTS They hear ONLY THE NUMBER OF VOTES Be Careful When You Load Your Results

UNITY REPORT SHOWS WHAT HAS BEEN LOADED

Unity ERM • • • Reports Canvass Precincts Completed Listing • Print Listing – Include Groups

MORNING AFTER ELECTION § Audit Returns From Each Precinct – Machine public count = ATV’s § If not why? Possible reasons – provisional in machine – ballot jammed and put back in machine - voter left with ballot § Account For All Ballots – Ballot count sheets are reconciled Voted Spoiled Provisional Unvoted § Compare Precinct Returns To ENR – Machine tapes compared to what was downloaded

MORNING AFTER ELECTION § Start Entering Voter History § Start Researching Provisional Ballots § Document any perceived problems you find during your audit process

BEFORE CANVASS MEETING Count Any Ballots Eligible To Be Counted § Ballots That May Not Have Been Counted At The Precinct…. (this could be a ballot the machine would not read) § Absentee Ballots – received timely § Provisional Ballots – Eligible to be counted § Sample Hand To Eye Audit

CANVASS MEETING § At CBE office, unless CBE unanimously votes to designate another site. GS 163 -182. 5 § An open meeting – anyone can attend and watch – must not interfere with the board’s work

CANVASS MEETING § Board prepares (signs) Abstracts that are permanent public documents § Retains one copy § Files one copy with county Clerk of Superior Court/Municipal Clerk (Municipal Election) § Files one with SBE

CANVASS REMINDERS Humans will make errors, however, we need to limit the number of self-inflicted wounds through: § Thorough audit procedures § Consistent security practices § Good public relations § If you make a mistake be open and honest about what has happened