By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — County Commissioner Daniel Friesen let the public know Wednesday who will be in his place Tuesday for the voting canvass.
"The Sheriff will be taking my spot on the ballot canvass next Tuesday," Friesen said in the commission meeting Wednesday. "I appreciate Randy's work in securing an alternative elected official to oversee that, because I will be absent. I might still dial in remotely depending on where I am at. I appreciate the Sheriff's willingness to step in, in that process."
The two other commissioners, Ron Hirst and Ron Sellers will be available.
During the days between the election and the county canvass, the county's election official prepares the tabulated results from the original canvass and groups all provisional ballots, challenged ballots and issues referred by the original canvass boards in preparation for the county canvass.
The tabulated results are presented to the county canvassers along with issues that need to be resolved. The county board of canvassers has the statutory duty to make the final decisions as to which ballots are valid and which are invalid. This includes making all final decisions about voter intent on mismarked ballots, write-in votes, and provisional and challenged ballots.
If a recount has been requested in one or more races, the county canvass is not completed until the recount is completed. The other election results may be certified, but the canvassers must meet again after the recounts to certify the results of the recounted races.
In local elections, the decision of the county canvassing board is official and final.