The clerk of the supreme court, the secretary of state, the state treasurer, and the chairman, or chairman’s designee, of the state committee of the two political parties which cast the highest vote for governor at the last general election at which a governor was elected shall constitute the state canvassing board. The duties of the state canvassing board consist of examining the returns of votes cast at the elections received from the various counties, verifying the computed final results in any reasonable manner adopted by the board and which may incorporate the use of any electronic technology or system approved by the secretary of state, and certifying the results on the basis of the canvass. After taking the oath required of civil officers, the board shall proceed to canvass publicly the election returns made by the county auditors. Three members of the board constitute a quorum and may make the canvass provided for in this chapter and certify to the result thereof. If less than a quorum attend on the day appointed for a meeting of the board, the members attending may summon other state officers until there is a sufficient number to constitute a quorum. Any other state officer, upon being notified by the members of the board, shall attend without delay and act as a member of the board. Members of the board may be compensated only for their expenses incurred in attending meetings in accordance with sections 44-08-04 and 54-06-09. The compensation must be paid from the appropriation to the secretary of state.