Sec. 21. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a recount or contest for election to a legislative office shall be completed by the state recount commission not later than December 20 after the election.

     (b) The state recount commission may adopt orders extending the deadline for completion of a recount or contest to a date specified in the order if the commission finds that there is good cause to do so.

     (c) Not later than seven (7) days after the state recount commission completes a recount, the election division shall prepare two (2) certified statements showing the total number of votes that each candidate received. The election division shall transmit one (1) statement to the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the office. After the statements have been prepared, the secretary of state shall deliver the other statement to the presiding officer of the house in which the successful candidate is to be seated.

     (d) The statement shall be referred by the presiding officer for such action as that house considers appropriate.

As added by P.L.7-1986, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.10-1988, SEC.177; P.L.3-1993, SEC.218; P.L.3-1997, SEC.375; P.L.103-2005, SEC.20; P.L.225-2011, SEC.77.