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h SECTION 1 TIMETABLE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR CANVASSING BOARD ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SUGGESTED PROCEDURES Several Months Prior to the Election—Section 102.141 and 286.011,FS. • Appoint canvassing board members. No member can serve if he or she is a candidate with opposition in the election being canvassed, or is actively participating in the campaign or the candidacy of any candidate who has opposition in the election being canvassed. Actively participating means undertaking an intentional effort to demonstrate or generate public support for a candidate beyond merely making a campaign contribution. Refer to DE 08-10; 09-07. Suggestion—At least one month prior to the pre-election test of the voting equipment the newly formed canvassing board should have a publicly noticed orientation meeting to discuss such issues as the calendar for the election(s)and the criteria to be used for accepting and rejecting as illegal absentee ballots. A second orientation meeting may be necessary. It is helpful to develop a chart or formally adopt a set of criteria to be used for canvassing ballots at this orientation meeting when there is less pressure on the board to make these decisions. The board can then use the pre-determined criteria to canvass ballots at election time. Pre-determining the criteria for accepting and rejecting as illegal absentee ballots also makes it easier for election staff to organize the ballots for canvassing board review. Ten Days or Less Prior to the Commencement of Early Voting—Sections 101.5612(2)and 101.657, FS. • Conduct publicly noticed pre-election test of voting equipment(A second test may be conducted if the polling place ballots are not ready at the time of the first test). Suggestion—If there is a member of the public present or a candidate, allow that person to participate in the public test by choosing a machine to be tested, etc. Fifteen Days Prior to the Election—Canvass of Absentee Ballots—Section 101.68(2),FS. • May begin canvassing of absentee ballots at 7 a.m. on the 15'h day before the election, but not later than noon on the day following the election. • Publicly notice canvassing meeting. • May process absentee ballots through the tabulating equipment beginning at 7 a.m. on the 151h day prior to the election. • Conduct logic and accuracy test on the tabulation equipment BEFORE processing absentee ballots. Section 101.5612(3), FS. Suggestion— When preparing your public notice for this meeting, include a time prior to the beginning of your canvass when people may inspect the absentee ballot envelopes since any challenge to a voter's ballot must be made before it is opened. Section 101.68(2)(2)FS. Election Day and the Days After—Section 102.141(4),FS and RULE 1S-2.016 FAC. • Report all early voting and all tabulated absentee results to the Department of State within 30 minutes after the polls close. • Report, with the exception of provisional ballot results, updated precinct election results to the department at least every 45 minutes until all results are completely reported. • Notify (The supervisor of elections notifies)the department immediately of any circumstances that do not permit periodic updates as required. • Submit results in a format prescribed by the department. 2012 FSASE CANVASSING BOARD MANUAL PAGE 2 41