Magney said poll workers typically seal ballot containers on election night with numbered seals or tags. The containers are then taken to either the municipal clerk’s office or directly to the county clerk’s office. The municipal clerk has until 4 p.m. the day after the election to deliver the ballot containers and other materials to the county clerk.

Late-arriving absentee or provisional ballots received by the Friday after the election are delivered to the county by 4 p.m. on the Monday following the election.

The materials stay in the county clerk’s custody until they can be destroyed, or 22 months in this case because there are federal candidates on the ballot, Magney said.

The missing ballots are particularly significant in this case because the margin is so close.

As of Tuesday afternoon, recounts in all but the city of Monroe, and Juneau and Richland counties showed Bomhack had gained three votes and Wittwer had lost four votes, meaning the seven-vote margin had been erased.

In the city of Monroe, the certified tally before the recount showed Wittwer with a 523-337 lead over Bomhack.

Neither candidate responded to an email Tuesday seeking comment.