Election Advisory No. 2014-23
To: | All Cities, School Districts, and Other Political Subdivisions |
From: | Keith Ingram, Director of Elections |
Date: | November 5, 2014 |
RE: | Recount Deadlines for the November 4, 2014 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.
Below are the deadlines for filing a recount for local elections of cities, school districts and other political subdivisions for elections occurring on the November 4, 2014 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 Monday, November 10, 2014. The last day for the early voting ballot board to convene and count provisional and oversea ballots is Monday, November 17, 2014. [§§ 65.051, 67.003 & 86.007(d)(3)]
After the early voting ballot board has convened and counted ballots, you may canvass the elections. The November 4, 2014 election must be canvassed no earlier than the eighth day after the election (Wednesday, November 12, 2014) and no later than the fourteenth day after the election (Tuesday, November 18, 2014). [§ 67.003]
Deadlines for Regular Recount Requests
If your entity elects:
- By plurality (a candidate must receive more votes than any other candidate for office to win)
OR
- There were only two candidates in the race (even if your entity does not elect by plurality)
THEN the deadline to file for a recount is THE LATER of these two dates:
- 5:00 p.m. of the 5th day after election day
OR
- 5:00 p.m. of the 2nd day after the canvass of the election
[§§ 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 November 4, 2014 election, the following dates apply:
Canvass Date | Recount Request Deadine (Regular): |
---|---|
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 |
5:00 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2014 |
Thursday, November 13, 2014 |
5:00 p.m., Monday, November 17, 2014 (Sec. 1.006) |
Friday, November 14, 2014 |
5:00 p.m., Monday, November 17, 2014 (Sec. 1.006) |
Saturday, November 15, 2014 |
5:00 p.m., Monday, November 17, 2014 |
Sunday, November 16, 2014 |
5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2014 |
Monday, November 17, 2014 |
5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 19, 2014 |
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 |
5:00 p.m., Thursday, November 20, 2014 |
Deadlines for Expedited Recount Requests
IF your entity elects:
- By majority vote (a candidate must receive more than half of the votes cast in the election to win)
AND
- There were more than two candidates in the race
THEN the deadline to file for a recount is THE LATER of these two dates:
- 2:00 p.m. of the third day after election day
OR
- 2:00 p.m. of the first day after the date of the canvass of the election, unless this deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, in which case, the deadline is extended to 10:00 a.m. of the next business day. [§ 212.088]
If these criteria apply to your entity, then for the November 4, 2014 election, the following dates apply:
Canvass Date | Recount Request Deadine (Expedited): |
---|---|
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 |
2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 13, 2014 |
Thursday, November 13, 2014 |
2:00 p.m., Friday, November 14, 2014 |
Friday. November 14, 2014 |
10:00 a.m., Monday, November 17, 2014 (Sec. 212.088) |
Saturday, November 15, 2014 |
10:00 a.m., Monday, November 17, 2014 (Sec. 212.088) |
Sunday, November 16, 2014 |
2:00 p.m., Monday, November 17, 2014 |
Monday, November 17, 2014 |
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2014 |
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 |
2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 19, 2014 |
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.
Please further be advised that an outline of the recount procedures and recount forms may be found in Chapter P of the handbook for the 25th Annual Election Law Seminar for Cities, Schools, and other Political Subdivisions (2013). As noted above, you can also obtain a copy of the recount outline. The recount forms can be downloaded from our website. If you do not have the 2013 seminar book and do not have access to the web, you may contact our office and request that the outline and forms be mailed directly to you.
Recount deadlines for elections conducted by counties on November 4, 2014 may be found at this memo.
If you need additional assistance, you may contact the Elections Division toll-free at 1-800-252-VOTE(8683).
CC: County Clerks/Elections Administrators
KI:AF:AM