Canvassing and Recount Manual

BEST PRACTICES GUIDE

FOR RECOUNTS

WEST VIRGINIA SECRETARY

OF STATE’S OFFICE

ELECTIONS DIVISION

July 25, 2023

CONTACT

Office of the Secretary of State

State Capitol Building, 157-K

Charleston, WV 25305

PHONE:

Main: (304) 558-8000

Fax: (304) 558-8381

Toll Free: (866) 767-8683

WEBSITE:

www.wvsos.gov

EMAIL:

elections@wvsos.gov

   
 
Table of Contents 
RECOUNT PROCESS  2 
REQUESTING A RECOUNT  3 
NOTIFICATION OF RECOUNT  4 
RECOUNT PREPARATION  5 
RECOUNT MATERIALS  6 
CONDUCTING THE RECOUNT  8 
CERTIFYING THE RESULTS  10 
WORKSHEETS & FORMS  11 
RECOUNT RESULTS WORKSHEET  12 
RECOUNT CERTIFICATION WORKSHEET  13 

2

Recount Process

Timeline for Recounts

The declaration of results, announcement of the 48-hour recount period, and bond requirement for

demanding a recount all occur at the completion of canvass. For canvassing procedures and forms, please

refer to the 2018 Best Practices Guide for Canvass.

The board of canvassers sets the amount of bond for a recount “in a reasonable amount with good sufficient

surety” but not to exceed three-hundred dollars ($300.00). The recount bond amount shall be determined

during the canvass procedures before any recount request is received. W. Va. Code § 3-6-9(h).

The declaration of results starts a 48-hour countdown after the last county has declared their results in a

multi-county election, during which time a candidate or eligible person may request a recount. Each county

must notify the Secretary of State that they have declared their results. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays

are excluded when computing the 48-hour period.

At the end of the 48-hour period*:

 All election races and ballot questions for which a recount has not been requested must be certified at

the end of the 48-hour recount request period; or

 If there is a recount request, the end of the 48-hour period begins a new 48-hour notification period.

Within this new 48-hour period, an official notice of the date, time and locations of the recount is

served to persons involved.

*NOTE: this 48-hour period could end on different dates and times for different races depending on when the

results are certified, whether the races are statewide, multi-county or local, etc.

Within 24 hours after the notice of recount is served, the person served with the notice has the opportunity to

notify the board in writing that they intend to preserve their right to demand a recount of precincts not

requested in the original recount request, or continue the recount if it is stopped by a requestor at any point,

who shall also furnish the same bond.

The date of a recount shall be set by the board of canvassers, and can be no sooner than three (3) days after

the notice of recount is served to the persons involved.

3

Requesting a Recount

The recount request must be received in writing by the county clerk (or municipal recorder for municipal

elections) within the 48-hour period following canvass.

REMEMBER: in a multi-county race, the 48-hour period begins after the last county has declared their

results.

Who can request a recount?

 To request a recount for an elected office, the person making the request must be a candidate for that

same elected office.

 To request a recount for a special issue election, the person must be a voter of the jurisdiction of the

election or the governing board.

What must be in the written request for a recount?

The written request for a recount must include:

1. The name of the candidate requesting a

recount;

2. The office or issue to be recounted;

3. If it is an issue, the voter’s name and

address;

4. All the precincts to be recounted;

5. Any specific precincts which are not to be

hand counted; and

6. The bond as required.

Other candidates involved in the recounted race have the opportunity to reserve the right to continue the

recount. The candidate who wants to reserve this right must respond to the recount notice within 24 hours

and post the same bond amount, and the same holds true for issue recounts.

What must be in the written request to preserve the right to continue a recount?

The request to preserve the right to recount has to be filed in writing to the county clerk/municipal recorder

and must state the following:

1. The name of the candidate(s), eligible person, or governing board filing the request to preserve the

right to recount;

2. The intention to preserve the right to request the recount of precincts not originally requested; and

3. The intention to preserve the right to continue the recount should the initiating person stop the

recount.

The candidate(s), eligible person, or the governing board filing the request to preserve the right to recount

must pay bond in the same amount as the bond required of the original candidate or eligible person

requesting the recount.

IMPORTANT: If the person requesting a recount requests only specific precincts to be recounted, that

candidate cannot afterwards add other precincts to the list to be recounted. The request for a recount shall

include all precincts covered by that election unless the person filing the request specifies otherwise. The

person requesting a recount or preserving the right to demand a continuation of the recount may specify

precincts which are not to be hand counted.

4

Notification of Recount

If a recount is demanded within the proper time, then the board of canvassers has 48 hours to send notice to

all candidates who filed for the office in which a recount has been demanded. The recount notice must state:

1. Date of the recount (cannot be earlier than 3 days after notice is served on all parties);

2. Time of the recount;

3. Place of the recount; and

4. Information in the original recount request.

The recount notice must be delivered by the sheriff of the county or the sheriff’s designee. In a municipality, it

must be delivered by the appropriate municipal police officer. The recount notice has to be delivered to the

requestor in person (or to the members of the governing board that officially requested a special issue

election in person). The sheriff or the sheriff’s designee or municipal police officer who delivers the notice

must record how, to whom and the time each notice is delivered.

If a candidate or board member cannot be found, the notice may be given to the spouse of the candidate or

board member or to some other family member over the age of 16. If the notice is given to a person other

than the candidate or board member, the sheriff or the sheriff’s designee must inform the person receiving

the notice of its purpose and meaning. If no one can be found to receive the notice, it must be posted on the

front door of the usual place of residence of the candidate or board member.

If the candidate or board member does not have a usual place of residence in the county where the recount

notice is being served, the recount notice must be delivered to the sheriff of the county in which the candidate

or board member does have a usual place of residence. The sheriff of that county serves the recount notice in

the same manner as discussed above.

If a sheriff or municipal police officer fails to make the recount notice delivery, he is penalized twenty dollars

($20.00).

5

Recount Preparation

The recount shall take place in the county courthouse for a county election or the town hall for a municipal

election.

In addition to serving the recount notices on each of the parties in the race for which the recount has been

requested (or to the governing board that officially requested the special issue election in which the recount

has been requested), the board of canvassers must also post the notice on the door of the place where the

recount is to be held.

The county commission oversees the recount in the case of a county or statewide election, and the municipal

governing body for a municipal election. All procedures must be conducted under the supervision of a quorum

of the board.

A member of the board can still serve on the board even if the recount is for her/his office, but only in a

supervisory role.

Example:

There is a recount in a county commission race, and the sitting commissioner was running for

reelection. That commissioner may still serve in a supervisory role during the recount, but may not

assist with the recount. However, if the election goes to a contest, that individual MUST recuse

himself/herself.

Others who may assist in a recount:

 County Clerk (Municipal Recorder/Clerk)

 County Clerk (Municipal Recorder) staff

 Others hired to assist with recount

Those who may not assist in a recount:

 Candidate of office involved in recount

 Immediate family of candidate of office

involved in recount

 Member of governing board which

requested a special issue election

 Any board member’s immediate family

which requested a recount

 Any voter that requested the recount of a

special election or his immediate family

The recount teams consist of 4 people – 2 to count, and 2 to tally. Each team of 2 must be of opposite

political parties.

Everyone working in the recount proceedings must be deputized in writing and take an oath that they will

faithfully perform their duties.

6

Recount Materials

Materials for Electronic Voting Systems (Optical Scan, ExpressVote)

1. Ballots

a. Voted

b. Provisional (Challenged)

c. Early and Absentee

i. Absentee ballots not counted after polls closed

ii. Applications for mail-in/faxed absentee ballots

iii. Poll slips used for early voting

iv. Precinct list of absentee and early voters

v. Military and overseas absentee material

d. Spoiled

e. Unused

2. Ballot Stubs and Poll Slips

3. Provisional Ballot Forms (where applicable)

4. Poll Books and other official registration records

5. Tally Sheets for the hand count

6. Certificates and oaths for those participating

7. Statements of Ballots Used

8. Voting Devices / Terminals (where applicable)

9. Ballot Boxes (where applicable)

10. Tabulating Equipment

11. Computer Printout of Unofficial Returns

12. Any supplementary tabulations such as tally sheets of hand counted ballot with write-in votes

prepared on election night

13. Official list of write-in candidates (if applicable)

14. List of ballots sent to each precinct --- including a list of actual ballot numbers (optical scan)

15. Flashcards

16. Unity Software

7

Paper Ballots

1. Ballots

a. Voted

b. Provisional (Challenged)

c. Early and Absentee

i. Absentee ballots not counted after polls closed

ii. Applications for mail-in/faxed absentee ballots

iii. Poll slips used for early voting

iv. Precinct list of absentee and early voters

v. Military and overseas absentee material

d. Spoiled

e. Unused

2. Ballot and Poll Ticket Stubs

3. Poll Books and other official registration records

4. Tally sheets for the hand count

5. Certificates and oaths for those participating

6. Statements of Ballots Used

7. Ballot Boxes

8. Precinct return certificates

9. Cumulative Returns

10. Official list of write-in candidates (if applicable)

11. List of ballots sent to each precinct --- including a list of actual ballot numbers

8

Conducting the Recount

A quorum of the board of canvassers must be present at all times during the recount of the ballots and the

recount is conducted under their supervision. If a quorum of the board of canvassers is not present, the

recount is recessed until a quorum is present or stands adjourned until the next business day. The presiding

officer of the governing body acts as the presiding officer of the board.

Before starting the recount, the board determines the order in which the precincts will be recounted, either

by random drawing or using a sequential order beginning with the lowest number and continuing to the

highest number. The determined order should meet with the agreement of the parties to the recount or their

designated representatives.

At the appropriate time, the paper ballots, the electronically tabulated ballots, the paper rolls and the record

of the tally of votes for all election precincts are brought before the board. Only the board, the clerks, the

employees of the clerk and persons specifically employed to assist in the recount can handle election

materials. NO ONE ELSE is permitted to touch the election materials at any time. However, a reasonable

number of the general public are allowed to attend and observe the recount. The board should hold the

recount in a room of sufficient size and satisfactory arrangement to permit observation.

Everyone who has requested the recount or preserved the right to continue the recount (or an officially

designated representative). The official representative of a candidate (or eligible person) must have a written

and signed statement from the candidate, voter or governing board member designating him or her as the

official representative. The name of the representative must be included in the statement. Each candidate or

eligible person may appoint only one official representative to act for him or her.

The candidates, voter or governing board (or official representatives) have the right to observe the recount

proceeding, including observing each ballot as it is read in a hand count process. They may view and examine

the tally sheets and ballots, but may not handle the election material. If you have a way to project the ballot

images onto a monitor, screen or wall so that it can be easily seen by anyone observing the recount, it will

help eliminate the need for candidates, etc., to be watching over the shoulders of the recount teams.

The candidate or eligible person (or his or her representative) has the right to question any ballot during the

recount. If a ballot is questioned, the deputized team (all 4 members) must reexamine that ballot and vote on

the voter’s intent on that ballot. If a majority of the team cannot agree on the intent of the voter’s markings, it

remains questioned and the votes for that ballot are not recorded.

Any ballot that is questioned is to be marked to provide for its identification at any future contest of the

election. The ballots can be marked in numerical or alphabetical order, or they can be tracked by the

candidate questioning the ballot plus a number (ex: Smith 1, Jones 1, Smith 2, etc.).

The evidence considered at a recount is only what can be viewed on the election material as it exists or from

relevant evidence from the election commissioners, poll clerks or other persons present at the election. The

board may not consider extraneous evidence. Numerous court cases have determined that it is inappropriate

for additional evidence to be presented during the recount. Only evidence presented during the canvass can

be considered.

9

When ballots are being hand counted, one of the deputized teams reads the ballots together. The votes are

read aloud so that the deputized team that is recording the vote can hear. Each member of the recording

team marks separate tally sheets. The recording team should compare their vote count on a scheduled basis

(e.g. after every 20 ballots) in order to catch errors.

Keep in mind that during a recount, all ballots are to be hand tabulated, unless otherwise requested. This

includes all paper rolls from the electronic touch screens. However, if upon request precincts are specified to

not be hand counted, then the recount procedures from canvass are in place for electronically tabulated

ballots. If the random drawing brings up one or more of the same precincts that were hand-counted at

canvass, then those precincts must be counted by hand again.

If a recount has been requested in more than one elected office or special issue, each deputized team may

handle only one elected office or special issue recount proceeding at a time until that recount is completed.

After a recount of a particular elected office or special issue is completed, the teams that worked with the

completed recount can be assigned to work with a recount of another elected office or special issue.

In addition to only counting one office (or special issue) at a time, each team works with only one precinct

at a time. The precinct materials cannot be mixed. If more than one team is required to efficiently complete

the recount, it is imperative that the teams are made up of the appropriate party affiliations. The canvassing

board should determine the number of teams required in advance to allow for time to assemble the

appropriate individuals. State law does not limit the number of teams that can be utilized; this is important

when dealing with a countywide recount.

For challenged ballots, each precinct’s ballots are handled the same way they were during the canvass. The

same procedures shall be in place to maintain the secrecy of the ballots and to preserve them for any future

contest.

Each precinct can only be recounted one time. However, if after recounting a precinct, the results do not

match the canvass results, the ballots and tallies can be checked at that time in order to discover any error in

reading the ballots or marking and computing the tally figures.

The person who requested the recount has the right to stop the recount at the conclusion of any precinct by

withdrawing his or her request. When that happens, the any person (or governing board) that has preserved

the right to continue may exercise that right.

The costs of the recount are paid by the candidate or voter asking for the recount, as long as it continues at

his or her request. However, if the outcome of the election is reversed at the conclusion of the recount, costs

shall not be assessed. This amount may be more than the bond that was set at canvass.

Example: Candidate Smith asks for a recount and the result changes after 2 precincts so he stops the

recount. Because the result changed, Smith is not charged. Candidate Jones had reserved the right to

continue the recount and exercises that right. After 4 more precincts are recounted, the result changes

again. Jones stops the recount and also owes nothing because, again, the result changed. Smith

cannot restart the recount because he already stopped it.

The recount is not complete until the board puts the ballots in a sealed package and signs across the seal. The

sealed packages are kept by the county clerk (or municipal recorder). When the recount is complete, the

board takes official action to certify the result of the election as it is determined by the recount.

10

Certifying the Results

The board has 30 days from the date of the election to transmit the Certificate of Results of the election to the

Secretary of State or other official or agency, depending on what office is involved. Refer to the chart below

to determine where to send the certificates.

Offices

Federal Offices

Supreme Court Justice

State Senate

House of Delegates

Circuit Court Judge

Family Court Judge

State Executive Committee

County Executive Committee

Congressional Executive Comm.

Senatorial Executive Comm.

Delegate Executive Comm.

County Commission

Board of Education

Greater Huntington Parks

Conservation District Supervisor

Originals

County Clerk & Governor

County Clerk & Secretary of State

County Clerk & Governor

County Clerk & Secretary of State

*County Clerk & Secretary of State

County Clerk & Secretary of State

County Clerk

County Clerk & Board of Education

County Clerk

Copies

Secretary of State

11

Worksheets & Forms

Forms may be found on the Secretary of State’s website at www.wvsos.gov in

the “Election Administrators” section of the Elections page.

12

RECOUNT RESULTS WORKSHEET

____________________County

Name of Person Requesting Recount: ___________________________

Office (or Issue) Subject to Recount:_______________________________________

Recount Request Date: ___/___/___ Recount Notice Date: ___/___/___

Recount Start Date: ___/___/___ Recount End Date: ___/___/___

Precincts Canvass Results Recounted Results

No._______________________ _______________________ ________________________

Page _____ of _____

13

RECOUNT CERTIFICATION WORKSHEET

____________________County

We, the undersigned, hereby certify that to the best of our knowledge and belief, the results of the recount

for the office/issue of __________________________________________ are true and correct as recorded

this ________ day of ____________________, 20______.

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________