The secretary of state, on the receipt of the certified copies of the statements of votes given in the several counties directed by law to be sent to him by the county clerks, shall place on file and preserve such certified copies in his office. If from any county clerk such certified copies shall not have been received by the secretary of state on or before the fifteenth day after any election, the secretary of state shall communicate with such county clerk by telephone, telegraph or mail, requesting that such certified copies be immediately forwarded and such county clerk shall forthwith forward such certified copies to the secretary of state. When the board of state canvassers meets to canvass the returns and determine the result of any election, the secretary of state shall lay before the board the statements received by him of the votes given at such election in the several counties.