Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A.
Paper ballots cast in a voting tabulator for early voting shall remain in the
custody of the election board assigned to the alternate voting location or
mobile alternate voting location in either the ballot holding bin of the voting
tabulator, or if deemed necessary, in a locked ballot box with two padlocks or
numbered seals, designated for the specific tabulator.
B. Paper ballots removed from the ballot
holding bin of the voting tabulator on a daily basis shall only be removed
after voting hours by the presiding judge and two election judges, one of a
differing political party than the presiding judge. The ballots shall be placed
into a locked ballot box, with two padlocks or numbered seals designated for
the specific tabulator.
(1) Those ballots
diverted to the write-in holding bin and those ballots placed in the hand tally
bin shall also be removed daily. Tabulated, write-in and hand tally ballots
shall be kept separate from each other, but shall be retained by date and
specific to the tabulator.
(2) The
presiding judge and two election judges, one of a differing party than the
presiding judge must execute a certificate containing the date and voting
tabulator serial number for each ballot type, after the transfer of ballots on
a daily basis.
(3) The locked
ballot box shall be placed in a locked room at the county clerk's office,
alternate voting location or mobile alternate voting location. If a location
does not have a locked room, the county clerk shall either provide a cabinet
with a locking device to be placed at the location for the presiding judge to
place the ballot box, or the county clerk shall take possession of the locked
ballot box and store it at the county clerk's office until it is transferred to
the absent voter election board. The presiding judge or county clerk shall have
sole possession of the key to the locked room.
C. Paper ballots that remain in the ballot
holding bin of the voting tabulator for the duration of voting, shall be
checked daily before voting hours begin by two election judges, one of a
differing party than the presiding judge, and in the presence of the presiding
judge. If the ballots are touching or near the diverter device, they shall be
laid down in a stack, as to avoid a jam in the diverter.
(1) If the ballot holding bin of the voting
tabulator becomes full during voting hours, the presiding judge and two
election judges, one of a differing party than the presiding judge, shall
unlock the bin and transfer the ballots to a locked ballot box, with two
padlocks or numbered seals, specific to the tabulator. The presiding judge
shall, in an audible tone, explain the reason for the removal and transfer of
ballots.
(2) The presiding judge
and two election judges, one of a differing party than the presiding judge must
execute a certificate containing the date and voting tabulator serial number
for each ballot type, after the transfer of the ballots. Those ballots diverted
to the write-in holding bin and those ballots placed in the hand tally bin
shall also be removed, kept separate from each other and specific to the
tabulator.
(3) The locked ballot
box shall be placed in a locked room at the county clerk's office, alternate
voting location or mobile alternate voting location. If a location does not
have a locked room, the county clerk shall either provide a cabinet with a
locking device to be placed at the location for the presiding judge to place
the ballot box or shall take possession of the locked ballot box and stored at
the county clerk's office until transferred to the absent voter election board.
The presiding judge or county clerk shall have sole possession of the key to
the locked room.
D. After
the transfer, recording and securing of ballots in accordance with this
section, the voting tabulator will remain in open polls status, put back into
use for the duration of the voting period and the removable storage media
device cartridge will not be cleared out.
