Chapter Twelve

After the election the action moves to the central counting location, where the ballots from the precincts are tallied and the grace ballots, early ballots, vote by mail ballots, and provisional ballots are counted.

When we say after, we mean immediately after, the central counting location has to be running by 8:00PM election night AT THE LATEST. It will continue on until all the ballots are counted, usually within 14 days of election day. Counting can continue for 31 days after the election.

Observers

Observers at the central counting location may or may not be poll watchers.

1. The Central Counting Location
2. Who Are The People Counting?
3. Scheduling Poll Watchers
4. Before the Count Begins, First Day
5. Before the Count Begins, Subsequent Days
6. What The Poll Watcher Is Looking For
7. While the Count Is Underway
8. After The Count Ends For The Day
9. Vote by Mail Election Judge Panel
   1. Election Judge Panels at the Central Counting Location
   2. Examination of the Certification Envelope, Before Election Day
   3. Vote by Mail Ballots Received After Election Day
   4. Acceptance
   5. Rejection
10. Contested Vote by Mail Review Panel
    1. The Election Judge Panel
    2. The Scope of the Contested Vote by Mail Review Panel
       • 2a. Applications
       • 2b. Certification Envelope
       • 2c. Ballot
11. Special Election Judge Panels
12. Provisional Ballots
13. The Last Day of Counting at the Central Counting Location