Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1360 - Department of State
Subtitle 1360-02 - Elections
Chapter 1360-02-12 - Electronic Vote Counting (Optical Scan) Systems Rules and Regulations
Section 1360-02-12-.10 - PROCEDURES FOR AUTOMATIC VOTE COUNTERS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING

(1) The procedure for counting absentee ballots shall be substantially the same procedure for paper absentee ballots. Processing of voted ballots after opening of polls: As soon as the polls are opened the ABC board shall remove the voted ballots from the ballot container. The ABC board shall next count the number of ballot cards and certify the number of voters cast on the voting roster. If there is any discrepancy between the number of voters listed in the roster and the number of ballots voted, this fact shall be noted with an explanation of the difference and signed by all the members of the ABC board.

(2) Tabulation of write-in votes procedures: The ABC board at the commission office shall examine the ballots and count the votes cast for candidates whose names have been written in. All valid write-in votes shall be tabulated and certified to the election officials on forms provided for this purpose, and the write-in votes shall be added to the results of the count of the ballots at the counting place and be included in the official's return for the precinct.

(3) Central Counting Proceedings: All proceedings at the central absentee ballot counting center shall be the same as set forth in T.C.A. §§ 2-6-117 and 2-6-118. All persons who are engaged in the processing and counting of the ballots shall be deputized and take an oath that they will faithfully perform their assigned duties. If any ballot is damaged or defective so that it cannot properly be counted by the electronic vote counting equipment, a true duplicate copy shall be made of the damaged ballot. The duplicate ballots shall be clearly labeled as such and shall bear a serial number which shall be recorded on the damaged ballot. (See duplicate ballots) The electronic or printed results of tabulation of votes by the automatic vote counter(s), to which have been added write-in votes, shall, when certified by the election officials, constitute the official return of each precinct.

(4) Posting results no required: Precincts using electronic vote counting systems shall not be required to post the abstract of the count of votes at the precinct after the closing of the polls.