Investigation; Consultation; Report

(1) The Secretary shall assign any complaint to an investigator, who shall be an employee of the Secretary’s Elections Division. (2) The investigator shall investigate the complaint’s allegations under the supervision of the Secretary or his designee and with the assistance of other employees of the Secretary’s Elections Division. (3) The investigator shall consult with the local election official complained of, by informing the local election official of the substance of the complaint and requesting a response. (4) The investigator, after review by the Secretary or his designee, may decide that the complaint is without basis, is outside the Secretary’s jurisdiction, or fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and shall so inform the local election official and the complainant in writing. (5) The investigator shall then prepare a report, including the results of this consultation, and shall present this report to the Secretary. (6) The report may recommend an informal resolution or the text of an order. Except in urgent circumstances, the report shall be in writing and shall be sent to the local official and to the complainant, who may file their written comments on it with the Secretary within ten days after the report was sent.