Carver County follows a set of standard procedures for collecting, compiling and reporting election results to ensure the security and accuracy of each election.

Votes are cast and compiled from two different sources:

  1. Votes cast prior to Election Day at the Chaska Government Center, Waconia City Hall and through the mail.
  2. Votes cast at polling precincts on Election Day. Carver County election results are transferred from the polling precincts to the County Elections Department after polls close. All ballots and election materials are sealed, audited and locked for security before leaving the polling places.

General Election results

The County reports initial unofficial results directly to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, following what most other counties do across the state.

These results will include votes cast in person at polling precincts on election day and absentee ballots counted by the County Elections Department.

Audit, Official Results, Post-Election Review and Securing Ballots

The Elections Department will audit the vote totals reported on Nov. 5 with the official paper documents certified by election judges for each precinct. 

Election results become official after the County canvass board meeting.

A statutorily required Post-Election Review will be conducted which consists of a complete hand recount of all paper ballots for 3 randomly selected precincts.  

All voted ballots and other election materials are securely maintained by the County Elections Department for 22 months following each election, as required by State and Federal law.