Canvassing Board

A board of canvassers is an official body, usually bipartisan, that has a wide range of responsibilities for the conduct of elections at the state, county, or local level.

The name of the board may vary from state to state. Maryland's, for example, is called the Maryland State Administrative Board of Election Laws, or SABEL. The bipartisan board is made up of five members appointed by the governor for four-year terms. City or county elections boards in Maryland are called the Board of Supervisors of Elections.

Counties in some New England states have no government functions outside of the judicial system. In these states the elections or canvassing boards operate at the state, city, and town levels.

Functions of the canvassing board may include voter registration, establishing precincts and voting sites, approving and training precinct officials, preparation and distribution of ballots and voting equipment, collection of precinct vote counts, certifying the election results, forwarding certificates of election to the winners, investigating any voting irregularities, and maintaining elections records. (See Contested elections; Districts, wards, and precincts.)

State elections boards are also responsible for administration of voter registration in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, popularly known as the Motor Voter Act. Other aspects of elections are shared with the federal government. (See State and federal election responsibilities.)