The Two-Week Local Deadline
The core of the post-election process in Missouri happens at the local level, and it has a clear deadline. By law, each local election jurisdiction must have its verification board announce the results and certify the returns no later than the second Tuesday after the election. This isn't just a suggestion; it's a statutory requirement that provides a firm two-week window for the heavy lifting of the canvass to be completed. However, there's a small catch: officials can't certify any results before noon on the Friday following Election Day. This brief waiting period ensures that all initial data has been collected and is ready for the formal verification process to begin in earnest.
So, What Is 'Canvassing' Anyway?
Think of canvassing as a comprehensive audit of an election.
It’s the formal process of making sure every vote is accounted for and that the totals are accurate. In Missouri, this is handled by a bipartisan verification board in each jurisdiction. Their job is to methodically review and reconcile all the numbers. They compare the paper receipts from polling place tabulators to the final totals to ensure they match perfectly. They also cross-reference the number of ballots counted against the number of voters who signed in at each location, ensuring there are no discrepancies. This process also includes evaluating any provisional ballots and resolving issues with absentee ballots, all to create an official, verified count known as an 'abstract of votes'.
The Journey From Polls to Official Record
The path to a certified result is a step-by-step journey. It starts on election night, when unofficial results are announced based on the initial machine counts. In the days that follow, the real work begins. The bipartisan verification board is convened. This board is responsible for every aspect of the final count. They meticulously examine poll worker records, reconcile ballot counts, and adjudicate any issues that may have arisen on Election Day. If a voter's signature on an absentee ballot is missing, for example, the board deals with it according to state procedure. Once they have a complete and reconciled account of every vote cast—in-person, absentee, and provisional—they prepare the official abstract of votes. This document becomes the official returns for that jurisdiction.
After the Canvass: Final State Certification
Once the local verification boards have certified their results by that second Tuesday, the process moves to the state level. The local abstracts are sent to the Missouri Secretary of State. For statewide and federal offices, a final step is required. The Board of State Canvassers, which includes the Secretary of State, meets to review these certified returns from all counties. According to Missouri statute, this board meets on or before the second Tuesday of December following the election. They then 'open and canvass the returns' from across the state and formally proclaim the final, official result. It is only at this point, sometimes more than a month after Election Day, that the winners of statewide races are officially declared elected.
