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Overview of the Post-Election Canvass

Lynda Roberts, Registrar of Voters, Elections

Rev. 5/15/23

After every election, the Registrar of Voters conducts the canvass to ensure that every eligible ballot is counted accurately. For consolidated elections, the time allowed to complete the canvass is twenty-eight (28) days after the election.

In Marin County, the canvass begins on the day after the election and continues during working hours until it is completed. Any member of the public may observe the canvass.

The public may watch any part of the election process. For more details see our Election Observer Plan or contact the Election Department.

The different types of ballots in an election are:

  • Vote By Mail (VBM) ballots, return categories:
    • By mail
    • At a drop box
    • At a vote center
  • Live ballots voted at the vote centers.
  • Provisional ballots voted at the vote centers, issued for the following reasons:
    • Voter already voted in the election and insists on voting at the vote center.
    • Voter’s registration is shown in the system as Inactive.
    • “ID Required” is shown in the system for the voter.
  • Conditional Voter Registration (CVR) ballots voted at the vote centers, issued for the following reasons:
    • Voter is not found in the system.
    • Voter’s registration is shown in the system as Pending.
    • Voter’s registration is shown in the system as Cancelled.
  • Ballot Marking Devices (BMD) ballots voted at the vote centers.
    • Voted ballots marked on the accessible voting devices available at all vote centers.
  • Spoiled ballots voted from the vote centers.
    • Ballot that voter made a mistake and requested a new ballot.
  • Surrendered VBM ballots voted from the vote centers.
    • Voter wished to vote at vote center and brought the VBM ballot mailed to them. It is not necessary to surrender a VBM ballot to vote at a vote center.