| (a) A canvassing committee appointed by the Commissioner
shall count the ballots and verify the referendum results to the Commissioner
for certification. Referendum results will be certified by the Commissioner.
(b) Ballots for the referendum will be counted in a
manner determined by the Commissioner.
(c) After the ballots are counted and the results verified
by the Commissioner, the ballots shall be locked in a container and
stored at the Department's headquarters for a period of 30 days. The
locked container containing referendum ballots cannot be opened for
the 30-day period without a court order or written request for recount.
If no contests or investigations arise out of the referendum within
30 days after certification of such referendum, the Department shall
destroy the ballots by shredding.
(d) A watcher may be present at Department headquarters
for the purpose of observing the canvass of the votes and until the
canvassing committee completes its duties. Written notice of intent
to be present during the canvass must be submitted to Department at
least three days prior to the count.
(e) A request for recount submitted under this division
must:
(1) be in writing;
(2) state the grounds for the recount;
(3) be submitted to the Commissioner within 10 calendar
days of canvass results; and
(4) be signed by the person(s) requesting the recount,
including address and phone number. If the request is made on behalf
of an organization or association, the person submitting the request
must state that he or she is authorized to request a recount on behalf
of the organization or association.
(f) A recount will be conducted by the Department,
under the supervision of a representative of the Office of the Secretary
of State.
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