Montana § 13-15-113 - Report Of Statewide Canvassed Election Results

§ 13-15-113. Report Of Statewide Canvassed Election Results

Report of statewide canvassed election results. (1) For an election subject to a statewide canvass as provided in part 5 of this chapter, after the vote count procedures provided in 13-15-101 are completed and before the canvass required in 13-15-401 begins, the secretary of state shall design a reconciliation spreadsheet for the county election administrators, who shall then use the spreadsheet to provide the following information: (a) the total number of registered electors in the county; (b) the total number of ballots issued by type, including poll, absentee, provisional, and military-overseas; (c) the total number of votes cast by type, including poll, absentee, provisional, and military-overseas; (d) the total number of ballots accepted by type, including poll, absentee, provisional, and military-overseas; (e) the total number of ballots rejected by type, including poll, absentee, provisional, and military-overseas; (f) the total number of test ballots printed, used for testing, and counted; (g) the total number of electors who registered on election day; and (h) precinct-level information including: (i) the total number of registered voters in the precinct; and (ii) the total number of ballots counted in the precinct by type, including poll, absentee, provisional, and military-overseas. (2) The spreadsheet must be posted to the county election website in a place accessible by all members of the public no later than when the board of county canvassers meets as provided in 13-15-401 . (3) A digital copy of the spreadsheet must be retained in perpetuity. A physical copy of the spreadsheet must be retained with all other records for that election in accordance with the retention schedule provided in 13-1-303 . (4) (a) The county election administrator shall submit the spreadsheet to the secretary of state no later than when the board of county canvassers meets as provided in 13-15-401 . (b) The secretary of state shall use the data submitted by the counties to prepare a comprehensive reconciliation report at least 7 days prior to the certification of the election results by the board of state canvassers. (c) If, in the process of preparing the comprehensive reconciliation report, the secretary of state discovers discrepancies within a county's results, the secretary of state shall immediately address it with the county election administrator, the county governing body, and legislative leadership for the purpose of correcting errors and reconciling discrepancies by whatever action is deemed appropriate. (5) As soon as the report required in subsection (4) is available, the secretary of state shall: (a) submit the report to the legislative services division, in accordance with 5-11-210 , for distribution to all members of the legislature; (b) post the report to the statewide election website in a place accessible by all members of the public; and (c) present the report to the state administration and veterans' affairs interim committee at the first meeting after a statewide or federal primary or general election.