What to know about Monday’s statewide canvass
|The official statewide canvass of the Nov. 8 general election is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday. It’s normally not a subject of wide public interest, but controversy over election processes and some extremely close results have elevated interest.
Here’s what to know about the event.
What is the statewide canvass?
It’s the official determination of election results, completed by publicly declaring as winners the candidates for federal, state and legislative office who got the highest number of votes in the election. It also declares which ballot propositions passed.
By law, the statewide canvass must happen on the fourth Monday after the election, which this year is Dec. 5. It pulls together the results from all of Arizona’s 15 counties.
The counties had a Nov. 28 deadline to canvass their votes and send them to the Secretary of State’s Office in time to prepare for this exercise.
Can the statewide canvass be delayed?
Yes, but only up until 30 days after the election, according to state law. This year, that would be Dec. 8.
Who participates in the canvass?
The secretary of state presides over the canvass. The governor and attorney general are required by law to be present for the official review of election returns regarding candidates.
The chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court must attend to attest to the secretary’s canvassing of returns on ballot measures.
Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs is the secretary of state. Gov. Doug Ducey, Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Chief Justice Robert Brutinel are expected to attend.