§ 163-182.5. Canvassing votes. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 163‑182.5.  Canvassing votes.

(a)        The Canvass. – As used in this Article, the term"canvass" means the entire process of determining that the votes havebeen counted and tabulated correctly, culminating in the authentication of theofficial election results. The board of elections conducting a canvass hasauthority to send for papers and persons and to examine them and pass upon thelegality of disputed ballots.

(b)        Canvassing by County Board of Elections. – The county boardof elections shall meet at 11:00 A.M. on the tenth day after every electionheld on the same day as a general election in November of the even‑numberedyear, and at 11:00 A.M. on the seventh day after every other election, tocomplete the canvass of votes cast and to authenticate the count in everyballot item in the county by determining that the votes have been counted andtabulated correctly. If, despite due diligence by election officials, theinitial counting of all the votes has not been completed by that time, thecounty board may hold the canvass meeting a reasonable time thereafter. Thecanvass meeting shall be at the county board of elections office, unless thecounty board, by unanimous vote of all its members, designates another sitewithin the county. The county board shall examine the returns from precincts,from absentee official ballots, from the sample hand‑to‑eye paperballot counts, and from provisional official ballots and shall conduct thecanvass.

(c)        Canvassing by State Board of Elections. – After each generalelection, the State Board of Elections shall meet at 11:00 A.M. on the Tuesdaythree weeks after election day to complete the canvass of votes cast in allballot items within the jurisdiction of the State Board of Elections and toauthenticate the count in every ballot item in the county by determining thatthe votes have been counted and tabulated correctly. After each primary, theState Board shall fix the date of its canvass meeting. If, by the time of itsscheduled canvass meeting, the State Board has not received the countycanvasses, the State Board may adjourn for not more than 10 days to secure themissing abstracts. In obtaining them, the State Board is authorized to securethe originals or copies from the appropriate clerks of superior court or countyboards of elections, at the expense of the counties. (2001‑398, s. 3; 2003‑278, s. 10(a); 2005‑323, s.5(c); 2005‑428, s. 11(a).)