[ambrose]

Upon the filing of an application, or upon declaration by the board or secretary of state that the number of votes cast in any election for the declared winning nominee, candidate, question, or issue does not exceed the number of votes cast for the defeated nominee, candidate, question, or issue, by the margins set forth in section 3515.011 of the Revised Code, the board shall promptly fix the time,

SHALL applies to the margins set forth in 3515.011.... less than 1/2 of 1%

[Bonaventure]

Gramatically, "shall" applies to both alternatives (separated by "or") -- the automatic recount and the recount upon application. Otherwise, the part having to do with the recount by application is a subject without a verb.