CANVASSCANVASS

Canvass defined in GS 163-182.5Canvass defined in GS 163-182.5

The entire process of determining the votes have The entire process of determining the votes have

been counted and tabulated correctly and been counted and tabulated correctly and resulting in the authentication of the official resulting in the authentication of the official election results.election results.

THE BOARDTHE BOARD

Conducting the canvass has authority:Conducting the canvass has authority:

To send for papersTo send for papers

To send for persons To send for persons

To examine themTo examine them

Pass on legality of disputed ballotsPass on legality of disputed ballots

ELECTION NIGHTELECTION NIGHTPRELIMINARYPRELIMINARY AUDIT AUDIT

PRECINCT OFFICIALS RETURNS TO YOUR CUSTODYPRECINCT OFFICIALS RETURNS TO YOUR CUSTODY

All Precinct suppliesAll Precinct supplies Poll books & ATV formsPoll books & ATV forms Machine memory cartridges & tapesMachine memory cartridges & tapes Ballots, all types – voted, unvoted, provisional, Ballots, all types – voted, unvoted, provisional,

spoiled, ballot custody forms, etc.spoiled, ballot custody forms, etc.

Precinct ClosingPrecinct Closing

Audit FormAudit Form

This is given to This is given to each precinct to each precinct to make sure they make sure they complete complete everything everything

ELECTION NIGHTELECTION NIGHTPRELIMINARYPRELIMINARY

AUDITAUDIT Use your Chain of Use your Chain of

Custody FormsCustody Forms– Have they returned all Have they returned all

required itemsrequired items

– Have they signed all Have they signed all required paperworkrequired paperwork

– We have several check-in We have several check-in stations that use different stations that use different chain of custody forms and chain of custody forms and some items are bar-coded some items are bar-coded and scannedand scanned

UNOFFICIAL RESULTSUNOFFICIAL RESULTS

How does that play into canvass?How does that play into canvass?

We say UNOFFICIAL RESULTSWe say UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

They hear ONLY THE NUMBER OF They hear ONLY THE NUMBER OF VOTESVOTES

Be Careful When You Load Your ResultsBe Careful When You Load Your Results

UNITY REPORT SHOWS WHAT UNITY REPORT SHOWS WHAT HAS BEEN LOADEDHAS BEEN LOADED

Unity ERMUnity ERM

• ReportsReports• CanvassCanvass• Precincts Precincts

Completed Completed ListingListing

• Print Listing – Print Listing – Include Include GroupsGroups

MORNING AFTER ELECTIONMORNING AFTER ELECTION

Audit Returns From Each PrecinctAudit Returns From Each Precinct– Machine public count = ATV’sMachine public count = ATV’s

If not why? If not why? Possible reasons – provisional in machine – ballot jammed Possible reasons – provisional in machine – ballot jammed

and put back in machine - voter left with ballotand put back in machine - voter left with ballot Account For All BallotsAccount For All Ballots

– Ballot count sheets are Ballot count sheets are reconciledreconciledVotedVoted Spoiled Spoiled ProvisionalProvisional UnvotedUnvoted

Compare Precinct Returns To ENRCompare Precinct Returns To ENR– Machine tapes compared to what was downloadedMachine tapes compared to what was downloaded

MORNING AFTER ELECTIONMORNING AFTER ELECTION

Start Entering Voter History Start Entering Voter History

Start Researching Provisional BallotsStart Researching Provisional Ballots

Document any perceived problems you find Document any perceived problems you find during your audit processduring your audit process

BEFORE CANVASS MEETINGBEFORE CANVASS MEETING Count Any Ballots Eligible To Be CountedCount Any Ballots Eligible To Be Counted

Ballots That May Not Have Been Counted Ballots That May Not Have Been Counted At The Precinct…. At The Precinct…. (this could be a ballot the (this could be a ballot the machine would not read)machine would not read)

Absentee Ballots Absentee Ballots – received timelyreceived timely

Provisional BallotsProvisional Ballots– Eligible to be countedEligible to be counted

Sample Hand To Eye AuditSample Hand To Eye Audit

CANVASS MEETINGCANVASS MEETING

At CBE office, unless CBE unanimously votes to At CBE office, unless CBE unanimously votes to designate another site. GS 163-182.5designate another site. GS 163-182.5

An open meeting – anyone can attend and An open meeting – anyone can attend and watch – must not interfere with the board’s watch – must not interfere with the board’s workwork

CANVASS MEETINGCANVASS MEETING

Board prepares (signs) Abstracts that are Board prepares (signs) Abstracts that are permanent public documentspermanent public documents

Retains one copyRetains one copy Files one copy with county Clerk of Files one copy with county Clerk of

Superior Superior Court/Municipal Clerk (Municipal Court/Municipal Clerk (Municipal Election)Election)

Files one with SBEFiles one with SBE

CANVASS REMINDERSCANVASS REMINDERS

Humans will make errors, however, we need to Humans will make errors, however, we need to

limit the number of self-inflicted wounds through:limit the number of self-inflicted wounds through:

Thorough audit proceduresThorough audit procedures

Consistent security practicesConsistent security practices

Good public relations Good public relations

If you make a mistake be open and honest about If you make a mistake be open and honest about

what has happenedwhat has happened