The returns of all municipal elections shall be made to the clerk of the municipality. The clerk shall request the assistance of the mayor of the municipality in conducting the canvass of votes. If there is no mayor or if the mayor has been a candidate at the election, the clerk shall appoint a municipal judge, a member of the election commission, or a person who is qualified to be an election judge and who did not serve as an election judge in the election as an assistant. No later than ten days after the election, the clerk, in the presence of the assistant, shall open the returns and make out abstracts of votes for each office.