Post-election duties; county canvass; defective returns;

notification of secretary of state. If the county canvassing board discovers any defective returns and issues a summons for the precinct board [election board], it shall immediately notify the secretary of state both orally and in writing that the returns from the specified precinct are defective. The secretary of state shall immediately transmit to the county canvassing board the defective returns from the precinct specified, after first making a photocopy of each of the covers and pages of the returns. The photocopy shall be kept on file for inspection as are the original returns.