Local boards set vacancy deadlines and name election officials

Party committee chairs submit voter lists after a vacancy, and the mayor or council president nominates a replacement. These rules apply to appointments to city and town canvassing authorities. If a party chair fails or refuses to submit a list within 30 days after notice of a vacancy, the mayor or council president nominates a voter from the party entitled to the appointment. If a vacancy leaves two board members from different parties, recognized local party committees that filed with the canvassing authority may each submit a list. A party chair has 30 days after notice of a vacancy to submit a list. The mayor or council president nominates within 30 days after receiving the lists.

City and town clerks correct official records when a board member's term end date does not match the required schedule. This applies when the recorded term end date of a local canvassing authority member does not comply with the law. The clerk must give written notice of the correction to the canvassing authority and any affected member. Member terms last six years and end on the first Monday of March in an odd-numbered year. The clerk makes corrections when records are found not to match that schedule.

Local boards designate a chief election official, who names an alternate and handles voter register access requests. The chief official is the local board's main election contact with the secretary of state and state board of elections. Where the city or town clerk handles election administration, the clerk or a designee is the chief official. Where a separate election office handles it, the local board designates the chief official. The chief official requests that the secretary of state add, change, or remove statewide voter register access for municipal system users who need it for their duties. The chief and alternate officials must keep emergency contact information on file at all times, along with the board chair's contact information.