November 2, 2010 General Election
For additional information contact the Yuba
County Elections Office at (530) 749-7855.
CANVASS
California Elections Code
requires the Registrar of Voters (ROV) to perform a post-election
canvass before certifying the final results. The canvass period can last
for 28 days after a major election. During this time, the ROV counts all
remaining valid ballots and performs a series of mandated audits to
ensure the accuracy and integrity of the election.
The vote
tallying process actually begins before election night, with the vote by
mail ballots. Any county that counts its ballots by computer may begin
processing vote by mail seven days before the election. This includes
signature verification against the voter’s registration card, removing
and inspecting the voted ballots for damage. Under no circumstances may
totals be accessed until after the polls close on election night. Vote
totals released on election night are considered “unofficial results.”
Vote by mail ballots not counted by election night, which includes all
those received on election day, either through the mail or dropped off
at the precincts, are tabulated during the 28 day official canvass
period.
The
California Elections Code requires the official canvass to begin no
later than the Thursday following the election, that it be open to the
public, and that it continue daily (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
excepted) for not less than six hours each day until completed. The
county election official must complete the official canvass no later
than the 29th day after the election and submit a certified statement of
the results of the election to the Secretary of State.
By law, the activities
undertaken during the official canvass include:
§
Processing and
counting any valid vote-by-mail and provisional ballots not included in
the semifinal official canvass. Provisional ballots are cast by voters
whose names do not appear on the precinct roster or those voters that
are registered as a vote by mail voter and wish to vote at the polls but
are unable to surrender their unvoted mail ballot. The voter uses a
regular precinct ballot which is then placed in a special envelope that
the voter must sign, much like a vote-by-mail envelope. During the
official canvass, the elections official checks the voter registration
file to verify the voter's eligibility to cast the ballot. Once
verified, the ballot is added to the official count. These ballots added
to the vote-by-mail ballots not processed on election night can number
300,000 to 800,000 or more statewide.
§
An inspection
of all materials and supplies returned by poll workers.
§
A
reconciliation of the number of signatures on the roster with the number
of ballots recorded on the ballot statement.
§
A
reconciliation of the number of ballots counted, spoiled, canceled, or
invalidated due to identifying marks or overvotes with the number of
votes counted, including vote by mail and provisional ballots.
§
Reproducing
any damaged ballots.
§
Conducting a
hand count of the ballots cast in one (1) percent of the precincts
chosen at random by the elections official. All races and contests must
be included in the hand count.
§
Hand count all
votes cast on the direct recording electronic equipment (touchscreen
units) and verified on the verified printer audit trail attached to each
unit.
§
Report final
results to the Secretary of State, as required.
Return to
November 2, 2010 Election