Canvassing Boards

Election results are not official until they have been reviewed and certified by a canvassing board. If necessary, the canvassing board oversees a recount. Canvassing boards are also involved in the process of randomly selecting precincts for review after every election.

Unofficial Results

On Election Night, county election officials enter unofficial election results on the Office of the Secretary of State’s website.

County Canvassing Board

Once results have been proofed by county election officials, the county canvassing board must review and approve the results before they are official. A county canvassing board certifies the votes cast within the county for races that go beyond the county boundaries and certifies the election results for offices up for election that are voted upon exclusively within that county (county offices and legislative districts that are entirely contained within the county). Federal offices, statewide offices and legislative districts that cross county lines must be certified by the state canvassing board.

Every county establishes a county canvassing board of five members: the county auditor; the court administrator of the district court in that county; the mayor or chair of the town board of the most populous municipality in the county; and two members of the county board.

Each municipality (city, township, etc.) and school district has its own canvassing board to certify results in those races.

The county canvass report is sent to the Office of the Secretary of State where it is carefully reviewed and incorporated into a statewide canvass report that is presented to the State Canvassing Board.

Election results are not official until they have been reviewed and certified by the canvassing board.

The canvassing board must meet:

  • On the 3rd day after a state primary or election held on another date, or
  • Between 3 and 10 days after a November state general election

In Nobles County, the canvassing board consists of:

  • The county auditor
  • The court administrator of the district court
  • The mayor of the most populous municipality (Worthington)
  • Two members of the county board selected by the board from members who are not candidates at the election

Any member of the canvassing board may appoint a designee of their choice to appear at any board meeting.