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Election Advisory No. 2023-03

To: All Election Officials
From: Christina Worrell Adkins, Director of Elections
Keith Ingram's signature
Date: May 4, 2023
RE: Canvass and Recount Deadlines for the May 6, 2023 Elections of Cities, School Districts and Other Political Subdivisions

This advisory 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 sent directly to you.

All statutory references in this advisory are to the Texas Election Code (“the Code”), unless otherwise indicated.

Canvass Dates

The final canvass is the local canvass for cities, schools, and other local political subdivisions. (Tex. Elec. Code § 67.005). The local canvass for the May 6, 2023 uniform election must be held not earlier than the third day after election day (Tuesday, May 9, 2023) and not later than the eleventh day after election day (Wednesday, May 17, 2023).

The canvass cannot occur until the early voting ballot board has qualified and counted all provisional ballots, if any; or the date on which all timely received late-arriving ballots (if any) are counted. For details about late-arriving ballots, see below. (Tex. Elec. Code § 67.003).

Recount Deadlines

Below are the deadlines for filing a recount for local elections of cities, school districts and other political subdivisions that were held on the May 6, 2023 uniform election date. Please note that there are two sets of recount filing deadlines. Which set of deadlines applies 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 actually canvassed.

All ballots received by 7:00 p.m. on election day must be counted on election day. However, you may count a late domestic ballot from a non-military voter or a military voter using an Application for Ballot by Mail (“ABBM”) (not a Federal Post Card Application (“FPCA)) that arrives no later than 5:00 p.m. on the next business day after election day (Monday, May 8, 2023) if it bears a cancellation mark of the postal service or a receipt mark of a common or contract carrier or a courier not later than 7:00 p.m. on May 6, 2023. The last day to receive a ballot from an overseas voter using an ABBM or FPCA is five days after the election, which is Thursday, May 11, 2023. The last day to receive a ballot from a military voter using an FPCA is the sixth day after the election, which is Friday, May 12, 2023. The last day for the early voting ballot board to convene and count provisional and overseas ballots is the ninth day after the election, which is Monday, May 15, 2023. (Tex. Elec. Code §§ 65.051, 67.003, 86.007(a)(2), 86.007(d)(3), 87.125, 101.057).

Deadlines for Regular Recount Requests

If the election is on a measure or if your entity elects officers:

OR

THEN the deadline to file for a recount is 5:00 p.m. of the 2nd day after the canvass of the election. (Tex. Elec. Code §§ 212.021, 212.028, 212.081, 212.083).

NOTE: Section 212.028 was amended by House Bill 3107 (87th Leg., R.S., 2021) to provide one date for the regular recount filing deadline.

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

If these criteria apply to your entity, then for the May 6, 2023 election, the following dates apply:

Canvass Date

Recount Request Deadline (Regular):

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 11, 2023

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

5:00 p.m., Friday, May 12, 2023

Thursday, May 11, 2023

5:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2023
(Sec. 1.006)

Friday, May 12, 2023

5:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2023
(Sec. 1.006)

Saturday, May 13, 2023

5:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2023

Sunday, May 14, 2023

5:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Monday, May 15, 2023

5:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

5:00 p.m., Thursday, May 18, 2023

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

5:00 p.m., Friday, May 19, 2023

Deadlines for Expedited Recount Requests

IF your entity elects:

AND

THEN the deadline to file for a recount is 2:00 p.m. on 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. on the next business day. (Tex. Elec. Code §§ 212.081, 212.083, 212.088).

NOTE: Section 212.083 was amended by House Bill 3107 to provide one date for the expedited recount filing deadline.

If these criteria apply to your entity, then for the May 6, 2023 election, the following dates apply:

Canvass Date

Recount Request Deadline (Expedited):

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 11, 2023

Thursday, May 11, 2023

2:00 p.m., Friday, May 12, 2023

Friday, May 12, 2023

10:00 a.m., Monday, May 15, 2023
(Sec. 212.088)

Saturday, May 13, 2023

10:00 a.m., Monday, May 15, 2023
(Sec. 212.088)

Sunday, May 14, 2023

2:00 p.m., Monday, May 15, 2023

Monday, May 15, 2023

2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 18, 2023

Note About Joint Canvassing Authorities

Section 271.011 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. There is not an automatic recount when the top two candidates tie in a majority vote scenario. A candidate may timely request a recount as usual.    The Election 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). (Tex. Elec. Code § 2.023).

NEW LAW: Certain procedures for responding to a tie vote under Sections 2.002 and 2.028 were amended by House Bill 3107. For more details, please see House Bill 3107, our Recount Outline, and Advisory 2023-02 Post-Election Procedures.

NOTE: A tie vote in the final canvassed vote for a measure election (for-against proposition) means the measure fails. There is no automatic recount. A recount may be timely requested by authorized persons.

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

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