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Election Advisory No. 2017-03

To: All Cities, School Districts, and Other Political Subdivisions
From: Keith Ingram, Director of Elections
Keith Ingram's signature
Date: May 3, 2017

RE:

Recount Deadlines for the May 6, 2017 Elections of Cities, School Districts and Other Political Subdivisions

This deadline memo is designed to be read together with the recount outline on our website. The recount forms can be downloaded from our website; alternatively, you may contact our office and request that the outline and forms be mailed directly to you.

Below are the deadlines for filing a recount for local elections of cities, school districts and other political subdivisions for elections occurring on the May 6, 2017 uniform election date.  Please note that there are two sets of recount filing deadlines.  Which set of deadlines applies to you is based on the method of election (i.e., majority or plurality).

The deadline for filing a recount depends on the date the election is canvassed.  You cannot canvass your election until the early voting ballot board has convened and counted all provisional and overseas ballots.  The last day to receive a ballot from an overseas voter is Thursday, May 11, 2017.  The last day for the early voting ballot board to convene to qualify provisional and overseas ballots is Monday, May 15, 2017.  [§§ 65.051, 67.003 & 86.007(d)(3)]

After the early voting ballot board has convened and ballots have been counted, you may canvass the elections.  The May 6, 2017 election must be canvassed no earlier than the third day after the election (Tuesday, May 9, 2017) and no later than the eleventh day after the election (Wednesday, May 17, 2017).  [§ 67.003]

Deadlines for Regular Recount Requests

If your entity elects:

THEN the deadline to file for a recount is THE LATER of these two dates:

OR

[§§ 212.028, 212.081, 212.083]

Please note that candidates are elected by plurality vote unless the law specifically provides otherwise (e.g., statute, home-rule charter, court order).  [§ 2.001]

If these criteria apply to your entity, then for the May 6, 2017 election, the following dates apply:

Canvass Date Recount Request Deadline (Regular)
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 11, 2017
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 5:00 p.m.,  Friday, May 12, 2017
Thursday, May 11, 2017

5:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017
(Sec. 1.006)

Friday, May 12, 2017

5:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017
(Sec. 1.006)

Saturday, May 13, 2017 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017
Sunday, May 14, 2016 5:00 p.m.,  Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Monday, May 15, 2017 5:00 p.m.,  Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 5:00 p.m.,  Thursday, May 18, 2017
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 5:00 p.m.,  Friday, May 19, 2017

Deadlines for Expedited Recount Requests

IF your entity elects:

THEN the deadline to file for a recount is THE LATER of these two dates:

If these criteria apply to your entity, then for the May 6, 2017 election, the following dates apply:

Canvass Date Recount Request Deadline (Regular)
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 2:00 p.m.,  Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 2:00 p.m.,  Thursday, May 11, 2017
Thursday, May 11, 2017 2:00 p.m.,  Friday, May 12, 2017
Friday, May 12, 2017

10:00 a.m., Monday, May 15, 2017
(Sec. 212.088)

Saturday, May 13, 2017

10:00 a.m., Monday, May 15, 2017
(Sec. 212.088)

Sunday, May 14, 2017 2:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2017
Monday, May 15, 2017 2:00 p.m.,  Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 2:00 p.m.,  Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 2:00 p.m.,  Thursday, May 18, 2017

Note About Joint Canvassing Authorities

Section 271.011 of the Code authorizes a joint canvassing authority. If your joint election agreement designated a joint canvassing authority, please be advised that Section 212.026(b) of the Code requires the recount petition to be filed with the presiding officer of your regular canvassing authority.

Reminder on Tie Votes and Automatic Recounts

Please note that even though recounts can be requested by candidates based on unofficial returns, the automatic recount based on a tie pursuant to Section 2.002 (plurality vote) should be based on the official canvassed returns.

In a race requiring a majority vote, the candidates in a runoff are the “top two” candidates (based on the official canvassed returns); either the two with the highest and second-highest number of votes, or the two who tie for the highest number of votes.  The Code provides that an automatic recount will be conducted in other (rare) circumstances (for example, a three-way tie for highest vote, or a tie for the second-highest vote).  [Sec. 2.023] 

See recount outline and Advisory 2017-02 on post-election procedures for more details.

If you need additional assistance, you may contact the Elections Division toll-free at 1-800-252-VOTE(8683).

CC:  County Clerks/Elections Administrators

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