Ballot Processing

How are ballots-by-mail verified?

Early ballots can be mailed back or returned in-person at official drop boxes or voting locations. Before tabulating the ballot, the signature on the affidavit envelope is compared to signatures on file for the voter. Examples of signatures come from documents including MVD records, voter registration forms, or previous early ballots. When signatures match, the ballot will be counted. If election officials have questions about the signature, they contact the voter to confirm the validity of the signature. Sometimes the voter may have to provide additional information to verify their signature. A.R.S. § 16-552.

When are early ballots counted?

County election officials can start counting early ballots immediately upon receipt. A.R.S § 16-550(B).

How do I check the status of my early ballot?

Visit my.arizona.vote and click on "Your Voter Info."

What happens if the tabulator can't read my early ballot?

Stray marks, torn paper, and water are some ways ballots might be damaged. Damaged ballots are reviewed by multiple election workers from different political parties to make sure every eligible vote is counted. A.R.S § 16-621(A).

For more information about early ballot processing, see Chapter 2 of the 2019 Elections Procedures Manual.

County Live Streams: For any statewide, county, or legislative election, the County Recorder or officer in charge of elections shall provide for a live video recording of the custody of all ballots while the ballots are present in a tabulation room in the counting center.

Election Day Operations

Voters in counties other than Maricopa and Pima can find their polling location by visiting my.arizona.vote. Maricopa voters can locate their polling location here. Pima voters can find their polling location here.

Make sure you bring the correct form of ID to vote in person. Election Day Voting.

Polling locations will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. The following provides information about what to expect on Election Day.

Guidance on Polling Place Conduct and Preventing Voter Intimidation

Free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and Arizona's election officials are committed to ensuring all eligible Arizonans can exercise their right to vote. The Secretary of State's Office is providing the following guidance to: (1) educate voters, poll workers, observers, political parties, and other interested citizens about their respective roles, rights, and responsibilities and key polling place rules; (2) discourage unlawful voter intimidation and suppression; and (3) encourage voters to report suspected violations.

 Reporting Voter Intimidation and Other Unlawful Conduct

If you witness voter intimidation or other unlawful conduct at the polls, we recommend the following steps:

• First, inform a poll worker at the voting location, who will work to resolve any problems and call county election officials and/or local law enforcement if needed. However, if you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911 first and then inform a poll worker if possible.

• Document what you see as much as possible, including the who, what, when, and where of the incident. (But keep in mind that taking photos or video is prohibited inside the 75-foot limit of a voting location.)

Click here to report the incident to the Secretary of State's Office

 Make a Plan & Protect Your Vote

• Know and plan ahead how, when, and where you will vote. Visit www.Arizona.Vote to find information about requesting a ballot-by-mail, voting early in-person, and voting on Election Day.

• Rely on trusted sources for election information. In Arizona, your trusted sources are the Secretary of State's Office, County Recorders and Election Departments, and the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. Contact information is available at www.Arizona.Vote. Report any misinformation about elections to the Secretary of State's Office at 1-877-THE-VOTE or elections@azsos.gov.

 Persons permitted inside the 75-foot limit of the voting location

Arizona law prescribes a 75-foot perimeter around each voting location to create a safe place to vote. Only the following persons are allowed inside the 75-foot-limit (A.R.S. § 16-515):

• Voters who are voting (may be accompanied by their children and/or someone to assist the voter);

• Election officials;

• Credentialed political party observers; and

• Authorized U.S. Department of Justice observers (for example, as required by court order).

 The Role of Observers

All political party observers are required to obtain credentials from their county political party chairperson and must present those credentials at their assigned voting location to observe inside the 75-foot limit. Generally, only one observer per political party is permitted in each voting location. A.R.S. § 16-515(B).

Credentialed political party observers are there to do just that: observe. Observers shall not obstruct poll workers or the voting process, interact with voters, take videos or photos, act unprofessionally, or otherwise fail to obey the polling place inspector or rules established by the county. Party observers who violate these guidelines may have their credentials revoked by the county and be asked to leave.

Non-credentialed observers, interest groups, candidates, and members of the media are not allowed within the 75-foot limit. Even if you intend to observe outside the 75-foot limit, observers shall not obstruct voting lines or the entrance to the voting location, or otherwise engage in any conduct that may have the effect of threatening, harassing, or intimidating voters.

 Activities Prohibited Inside the 75-foot limit

To ensure a safe and secure voting experience for all Arizonans, the following activities are prohibited inside the 75-foot-limit of any voting location. If you experience prohibited activities in the 75-foot limit, inform a poll worker. Poll workers will generally be stationed inside the 75-foot limit. If you cannot find a poll worker, call the Secretary of State's Office at 1-877-THE-VOTE. We will use the information you provide to contact the appropriate county election officials to help resolve the issue.

1. Electioneering

   It is unlawful to conduct campaign-related activity (electioneering) within the 75-foot limit. This includes handing out campaign literature, talking to voters or poll workers about candidates or issues, or otherwise attempting to influence the election. If the voting location has an "emergency" designation, electioneering is prohibited anywhere on-site, even outside the 75-foot limit. A.R.S. § 16-411(H); A.R.S. § 16-515; A.R.S. § 16-1018.

   A voter is permitted to wear clothing with a political message inside the 75-foot limit, but poll workers, observers, and election officials may not. A.R.S. § 16-515(F).

2. Carrying Firearms and Weapons

   Arizona law prohibits private citizens, even if properly licensed, from entering the 75-foot limit of a voting location with a weapon. Further, since many polling places are located in schools, it may be unlawful to bring a firearm on school property, even outside the 75-foot-limit. A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(11)-(12).

   Openly carrying a firearm outside the 75-foot limit is also problematic and likely to result in unlawful voter intimidation. Additionally, any aggressive or ostentatious display of a weapon will almost certainly constitute an act of intimidation.

   Arizona's election officials seek to ensure voting locations are not only safe, but also free of intimidation. If you are coming to a voting location for any reason, please leave any weapons at home or in your vehicle.

3. Taking Photographs and Videos

   While taking photos of your early ballot from home ("ballot selfies") is permissible, taking any photos or videos in a voting location inside the 75-foot limit is prohibited and punishable as a misdemeanor. A.R.S. § 16-515(G)-(H); A.R.S. § 16-1018(4).

   Further, much like the open display of firearms, taking photos or videos outside the 75-foot-limit may have an intimidating effect on voters entering or exiting the voting location if done in an aggressive, threatening, or harassing way. Filming voters based on race, ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation is inappropriate.

   If you find it necessary to film to document the commission of a crime or other election-related violation, please consider informing a poll worker first.

 Law Enforcement and Uniformed Personnel

Generally, law enforcement officers, whether uniformed or plain-clothes, should not be stationed within the 75-foot limit of a voting location. Exceptions may apply if the officer is voting, if the voting location is located within a public safety building, or if an officer is called to respond to a specific emergency.

The presence of uniformed law enforcement personnel at a voting location, whether in or outside of the 75-foot limit, may have the effect of intimidating voters. Counties will balance this potentially intimidating effect with the need to preserve the peace and respond to emergencies.

As noted below, each voting location is overseen by an inspector and has a designated election marshal charged with keeping order in and around the voting location. Poll workers should make all reasonable efforts to de-escalate disturbances without engaging law enforcement whenever possible. Situations that cannot be solved by poll workers should be resolved with the assistance of county election officials. In circumstances where there is violence or threats of violence, including any instance when a private citizen carries a weapon into the 75-foot limit, the marshal or election officials should contact law enforcement for the limited purpose of resolving that situation.

 Voter Challenges

All eligible voters are entitled to exercise their right to vote free from harassment and intimidation from baseless challenges to voter qualifications. Arizona law permits only a qualified elector of the county to challenge a voter's eligibility to vote, and political party challengers must be previously designated and credentialed as observers by their party. A.R.S. § 16-590; A.R.S. § 16-591.

A qualified elector challenging a voter's eligibility must have clear and convincing evidence that:

• The voter has voted before in that election;

• The voter is not the person whose name appears in the roster/e-pollbook;

• The voter has not resided in Arizona (or the relevant locality) for at least 29 days before the election;

• The voter is registered at an address that is not permitted for registration purposes; or

• The voter is not otherwise a qualified elector, for example, the voter does not live within the proper electoral district or is not at least 18 years old.

Challenges must be directed to poll workers, and challengers shall not directly confront voters or question voters about their voting qualifications. Challenges must be promptly decided in the voting location by a board made up of the inspector and two judges, pursuant to applicable law and the Elections Procedures Manual.

• The voter must be permitted to vote a regular ballot if: (1) the voter appears to be registered and takes the prescribed oath, or (2) a majority of the board finds the challenge invalid.

• The voter must be permitted to vote a provisional ballot if: (1) the voter refuses to take any oath; (2) the voter refuses to answer the inspector's questions material to the challenge; or (3) a majority of the board finds the challenge is valid.

Critically, challenges based in whole or in part on race, national origin, appearance, surname, language, or religion are not permitted, and violate federal anti-discrimination laws. Repeated challenges without a sound basis that delay voting, challenges that are otherwise intended to intimidate or prohibit qualified voters from voting, or challenges that involve additional confrontational or harassing behavior may amount to unlawful voter harassment and intimidation and warrant removal from the voting location.

 Dropping off Ballots at Voting Locations

All eligible voters may request a ballot-by-mail and may mail back their voted ballot or drop it off at their County Recorder's Office, any official ballot drop-box, any early voting location, or any Election Day voting location in the county. Ballots must be received by election officials by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Arizona law allows a caregiver, family member, household member, or election official to help return a voter's ballot to county election officials, including dropping off the ballot at a voting location. These categories are defined in statute as (A.R.S. § 16-1005):

• A caregiver is a person who provides medical or health care assistance to the voter in a residence, nursing care institution, hospice facility, assisted living center, assisted living facility, assisted living home, residential care institution, adult day health care facility or adult foster care home."

• Family member: "a person who is related to the voter by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship."

• Household member: "a person who resides at the same residence as the voter."

 Discriminatory Conduct and Voter Intimidation

Discrimination against voters based on race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, or disability is punishable under law. Even in the absence of discrimination, any attempt to intimidate, coerce, or threaten a person to vote or not vote is strictly prohibited and may be criminally punishable.

Examples of activity that may amount to intimidation, whether in or outside the 75-foot limit, include:

• Aggressive or ostentatious display of weapons;

• Aggressive behavior, such as raising one's voice or taunting a voter or poll worker;

• Using threatening, insulting, or offensive language to a voter or poll worker;

• Blocking the entrance to a voting location or disrupting voting lines;

• Intentionally disseminating false or misleading information at a voting location, such as flyers or communications that misstate the date of the election, hours of operation for voting locations, addresses for voting locations, or similar efforts intended to disenfranchise voters;

• Impersonating a law enforcement officer, or otherwise wearing clothing, uniforms or official-looking apparel, intended to deter, intimidate, or harass voters (see also A.R.S. § 26-170, prohibiting unauthorized wearing of national guard or U.S. armed forces uniform);

• Directly confronting or questioning voters in a harassing or intimidating manner, including asking voters for "documentation" or other questions that only poll workers should perform;

• Raising repeated frivolous voter challenges to poll workers without any good faith basis, or raising voter challenges solely based on race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion or disability; or

• Posting signs or communicating messages about penalties for "voter fraud" in a harassing or intimidating manner.

In sum, any activity that has the intent or effect of threatening, harassing, or intimidating voters—whether in or outside of the 75-foot-limit—is unlawful and should be strictly enforced by election officials, including with assistance from law enforcement if necessary. 52 U.S.C. § 10101(b), 10307(b); A.R.S. § 13-1202, 16-1013.

 Enforcing Polling Place Rules

Inspectors oversee each polling place and should utilize the marshal to preserve order and remove potentially disruptive persons. A.R.S. § 16-535(B); A.R.S. § 16-1004(A). Higher-level decisions generally are raised through county channels, whether through a trained troubleshooter, the elections department, or both. Any decision to contact law enforcement is for local election officials to be exercised in their sound judgment.

If you witness a problem at a polling place, you should not speak to or accost a voter to "enforce" the law yourself. Tense situations should be de-escalated, not escalated. Please inform a poll worker to resolve the issue, or if you or another person is in immediate danger, call 911. Do not take matters into your own hands.

Assisting Voters on Election Day

Voters may be accompanied within the 75-foot limit and assisted by a person of the voter's choice during any part of the voting process. A.R.S. § 16-580(E).

A voter may also request assistance from a third-party (other than the voter's employer or union representative or a candidate appearing on the ballot) or from members of the election board. A.R.S. § 16-580(E).

Counties may also provide curbside voting to senior citizens or voters with disabilities as a reasonable accommodation or when the county officer in charge of elections determines that a voting location is inaccessible, that no accessible sites are available, and that no temporary measures can make it accessible.

Provisional Ballots

A voter may be offered a provisional ballot instead of a regular ballot in certain circumstances. A provisional ballot will be counted if that voter is registered and eligible to vote in that election.

No voter should be turned away from the polls without an opportunity to at least cast a provisional ballot. The following information provides additional detail about when you might be offered a provisional ballot:

 Voter Received an Early Ballot

If a voter received an early ballot, but decides to vote in-person, the voter will be issued a provisional ballot. A.R.S. § 16-579(B).

A new law passed in 2022 will allow voters who surrender their ballot-by-mail at a voting location to be issued a regular ballot, if otherwise eligible.

Voters who appear at a voting location with a ballot-by-mail that has not been voted, along with the affidavit envelope, may use a privacy booth at the voting location to mark the ballot-by-mail. In this circumstance, the voter does not sign in and the voter must place the voted ballot-by-mail in its affidavit envelope, sign the affidavit envelope, and place the envelope in the early ballot drop-off container at the voting location.

 Name Does Not Appear on Signature Roster

A voter whose name does not appear on the signature roster will be issued a provisional ballot if the voter:

• Presents identification that includes their name and a residential address that the clerk verifies to be within the precinct (in counties that conduct assigned polling place elections); or

• Signs an affirmation that states the voter is registered and eligible to vote in that jurisdiction.

A.R.S. § 16-548(B).

A voter whose name does not appear on the signature roster, but who presents a certificate from the County Recorder showing that the voter is entitled to vote at the voting location, is entitled to vote a regular ballot. A.R.S. § 16-548(A).

 Voter Has an Inactive Status or Address Update

If a voter needs to update their residential address within that county, the voter should cast a provisional ballot. In this case, the voter must vote in the correct polling place that corresponds to their current address for the vote to count.

If a voter affirms that they continue to reside at the address on the signature roster or in the e-pollbook, the voter will be issued a regular ballot and the County Recorder will place the voter's registration record in active status following the election. A.R.S. § 16-583(A)-(B).

A voter will be permitted (via the provisional ballot envelope) to update their voter registration record with their current address. A.R.S. § 16-584(C). In a jurisdiction that utilizes vote centers, the voter may update their address in the same manner but can vote at any vote center within the jurisdiction.

 Voter Changed Their Name

If a voter's current name does not appear in the signature roster or e-pollbook because the voter changed their name, the voter must be issued a provisional ballot or conditional provisional ballot.

 Out-of-Precinct Voter

If the voter's name does not appear on that precinct's signature roster because the voter resides in another precinct (in counties that conduct assigned polling place elections), an election official should direct the voter to the correct polling location or, if applicable, to a vote center.

Out-of-precinct voters may still cast a provisional ballot, but the voter should be informed that ballots cast in an incorrect precinct will not count.

Voter Challenges

Arizona law allows a qualified elector in the county to make an oral challenge at the voting location against another voter's eligibility. The challenger bears the burden of providing clear and convincing evidence, that:

1. The voter has voted before at that election; A.R.S. § 16-591

2. The voter is not the person whose name appears in the signature roster or e-pollbook; A.R.S. § 16-121.01(B)(1)

3. The voter has not resided in Arizona (or the relevant local jurisdiction) for at least 29 days before the election; A.R.S. § 16-121.01(B)(2)

4. The voter is registered at an address that is not permitted for registration purposes; A.R.S. § 16-121.01(B)(3) or

5. The voter is not otherwise a qualified elector, for example, the voter does not live within the proper electoral district or is not at least 18 years old. A.R.S. § 16-121.01(B)(4); 16-101(A).

If the challenged voter appears to be registered, they will be asked by the election board reviewing the challenge to take the oath prescribed in the State Form. A.R.S. § 16-592(A). If a majority of the board finds the challenge to be invalid, the voter must be permitted to vote a regular ballot. A.R.S. § 16-592(B).

If the voter being challenged refuses to take the oath, answer questions about the challenge, or if a majority of the board finds that the challenge is valid, the challenged voter must be permitted to vote a provisional ballot. A.R.S. § 16-592(C).

If you experience behavior at a polling location that violates Arizona law or constitutes intimidation, please report it to a poll worker and complete the Election Incident Form. You may also be eligible to submit a HAVA complaint. Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

Closing the Voting Location

Polls close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. A.R.S. § 16-565(A). Anyone who is in line to vote by 7:00 p.m. should be allowed to vote. Please stay in line if you arrived by 7:00 p.m. and want to vote. A.R.S. § 16-565(D).

Post-Election Procedures

The information in this section provides background on how ballots are tabulated as well as the additional audit mechanisms in place to ensure the tabulation is accurate.

Ballot Tabulation

County elections officials are responsible for tabulating ballots for federal, state, and county elections. Tabulation can begin after the tabulation equipment has successfully passed the logic and accuracy testing and, for early ballots, once the County Recorder has verified the signature on the ballot affidavit envelope.

All early and provisional ballots are initially processed by a County Recorder's Office for signature verification then transferred to the officer in charge of elections for tabulation at a central counting place. Counties can begin tabulation any time after early voting has begun, and most early ballots will be tabulated in the weeks leading up to the election. Early ballots that are received on Election Day will be tabulated in the days immediately following the election. Remember, all early ballots must go through the signature verification process prior to being tabulated, which takes time.

Ballots cast on Election Day are either tabulated onsite at a polling location or at the county's central counting location. This process varies by county, so please check with your county elections officials to learn more about what you might experience at your polling location.

Reporting Election Results

Counties will begin reporting Election Day results either an hour after the polls close or once all Election Day results have been tabulated, whichever is earlier. The first round of results is typically the early ballots received prior to Election Day, followed by Election Day results. It will take several days for counties to finish processing early and provisional ballots, so expect results to continue to be reported for several days.

 Livestream of Central Count Locations

Hand Count Audit

A limited precinct hand count and early ballot hand count audit may be conducted after countywide primary, special, general, and PPE elections. The purpose of the hand count audit is to compare the results of the original count to the hand count to assure that the tabulation equipment is working properly and accurately counting votes. The chair of each recognized party that appears on the ballot must designate participants for the hand count audit for it to proceed. If a hand count audit is being held, the hand count must begin within 24 hours after the polls close on Election Day and must be completed before the county canvass. A.R.S. § 16-602(I).

• If the results from the hand count audit are within the "designated margin" of the electronic results for selected ballots, the countywide electronic results are deemed the official results of the election. A.R.S. § 16-602(C)

• If the results from the hand count audit are outside of the designated margin, a second hand count of the same ballots is required, potentially followed by an expanded hand count and one or more jurisdiction-wide hand counts depending on the results. A.R.S. § 16-602(F).

Designated margins are established by the Vote Count Verification Committee. The VCVC meets prior to each Primary and General Election to establish margins for that election. The current margins are:

• Early Ballots – The designated margin for early ballots is set to three votes or one percent, whichever is greater.

• Polling Place – The designated margin for polling place ballots is set to three votes or one percent, whichever is greater.

Conducting Post-Election Logic & Accuracy Test

Another step to ensuring the election results are accurate is through post-election logic and accuracy (L&A) testing of tabulation equipment. This testing must be performed by the officer in charge of elections after the official count has been completed but before the county canvass.

The post-election L&A test is performed using the same election program and tabulation equipment used for the pre-election L&A test and the election. The same test ballots and test script from the pre-election L&A test are utilized as a control. To successfully pass post-election L&A testing, the results must align with the results of the pre-election L&A test.

Canvassing the Election

The governing body conducting an election must meet and canvass the election results of each precinct or election district. The purpose of the canvass is to officially certify the election. The canvass includes vote totals for all races (including early ballots, regular ballots, and provisional ballots) and write-in votes.

 County Board of Supervisors Canvassing Duties

A Board of Supervisors must canvass the official election results in a public meeting by the required deadline, which varies by type of election.

• For primary elections and PPEs, the Board of Supervisors must canvass the results within 10 business days after the election. A.R.S. § 16-241(C); A.R.S. § 16-645..

• For all other elections held on a consolidated election date (including general elections), the Board of Supervisors must canvass between six and 20 days after the election. A.R.S. § 16-645.

• For special elections, the Board of Supervisors must canvass the election according to the deadline established in the order calling the election.

 Secretary of State's Canvassing Duties

The Arizona Secretary of State must canvass the results for any elections that include a federal, statewide, or legislative office, state appellate court and supreme court judges, and statewide ballot measures.

• For primary elections and PPEs, the Arizona Secretary of State must canvass the results on or before the third Monday after the election. A.R.S. § 16-241(C);A.R.S. § 16-645(B).

• For a general election, the Arizona Secretary of State must canvass the results on the fourth Monday following the election. The Secretary of State must conduct the general election canvass at a public meeting and in the presence of the Governor and Attorney General. If any statewide ballot measures appeared on the ballot, the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court will also attend. A.R.S. § 16-648(A)-(B).

Following an electoral college to select the President of the United States, the Arizona Secretary of State must transmit Certificates of Ascertainment and Certificates of Vote to the Archivist of the United States, President of the United States Senate, and the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona by the deadline provided under federal law.

 City and Town Canvassing Duties

A city or town council must canvass the official election results of city or town elections in a public meeting. A.R.S. § 16-403.

 Special Taxing District Canvassing Duties

A special taxing district must canvass the official results for its elections in a public meeting and present the canvass results to the applicable Board of Supervisors at the Board's next regularly scheduled meeting. A.R.S. § 16-642(B).

 County School Superintendent Canvassing Duties

Within 30 days following the date of any school election, the County School Superintendent must meet with the Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors or designee to canvass the returns in accordance with procedures for the canvass of returns in a general election. A.R.S 15-426(B); A.R.S. § 15-302(A)(8).

Determining Election Results

 In a partisan primary election

• The candidate who receives the largest number of votes is declared the party nominee for that office and issued a certificate of nomination by the Board of Supervisors (or designee). A.R.S. § 16-645(A).

• In order for a write-in candidate to become the nominee of a party with continued representation on the ballot, the candidate:

  • Must receive the largest number of votes; and

  • Must receive at least as many votes as the number of nomination petition signatures required to appear on the primary election ballot for that office. A.R.S. §16-645.

 In a general election

• Unless otherwise specified in law, the candidate who receives the largest number of votes must be declared elected to that office and issued a certificate of election by the Board of Supervisors (or designee); and A.R.S. § 16-647; A.R.S. § 16-650.

A ballot measure that is approved by a majority of votes cast for the measure will be declared to be law. Ariz. Const. art. IV, pt. 1, § 1(13).

A.R.S. § 16-649 specifies the result of the election in the event of a tie.

Automatic Recount

 Vote Margins that Trigger Recount

As of September 24, 2022, a recount must be performed following a general, primary, or special election if the margin of votes, based on the official canvass, between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for a particular office, or the votes cast for and against a ballot measure, is less than or equal to:

1/2 of 1% of the total number of votes cast for the top two candidates or the ballot measure in question.

A.R.S. § 16-661(A).

Given this change in law (2022), it's possible that more contests will proceed through the recount process than in prior years. If this happens, election officials will work to keep you informed of the progress and outcome as soon as information becomes available.

The recount requirements do not apply for the following offices:

• Precinct committeemen;

• School district or joint technical education district board member;

• Community college district board member;

• Special taxing district board member; or

• Presidential candidate in a PPE.

A.R.S. § 16-249(B); A.R.S. § 16-661(B).

 Who Initiates a Recount

If the official canvass demonstrates that a recount is required, the filing officer must inform the court who will issue a court order for the recount to begin. A.R.S. § 16-662. A candidate or member of the public may not request a recount as a matter of right.

 Conducting the Recount

A recount is conducted by running paper ballots from the applicable race through the designated electronic voting equipment. The respective election official will program the tabulation equipment to only tabulate the designated contest. Prior to tabulation, the equipment must again pass logic and accuracy testing to ensure that it is accurately tabulating votes. Once the results have been tabulated, and if the political parties request it, a hand count audit may occur. Upon completion, the elections officer will provide the results to the court, and the judge will announce the winner. No additional canvass is required.