Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1360 - Department of State
Subtitle 1360-02 - Elections
Chapter 1360-02-15 - Procedures for Early Voting on Mechanical Lever Machines
Section 1360-02-15-.08 - OPENING INSPECTION

(1) At the beginning of each day of early voting, the registrar and at least one early voting election official representing each political party shall verify that the numbers on all seals and the protective counter match those recorded on the machine certification form. If the numbers properly match, then the machine may be opened. If the numbers do not match, a written report shall be made of the numbers, the machine involved, and the names of the individuals present. This report shall be forwarded to the State Coordinator of Elections as well as to the chairman and secretary of the county election commission. This machine shall not be used without authorization from the State Coordinator of Elections.

(2) If the numbers mentioned in paragraph one (1) properly match, the registrar and election officials shall open the machine. With the front door of the voting machine open, the names and counters shall be inspected to make certain that no errors exist. On the first day of early voting, the registrar and election officials shall certify that all candidates' counters start with zero. The registrar and at least one election official representing each political party shall then certify that pre-inspection has been completed on day one of the early voting period. This certification is made on the Daily Machine Certification form for that individual machine (See "Sample A"). Only after this signed certification is completed may the machine be set for early voting. Each machine shall have a binder tablet with the machine's serial number on it in which to place the machine applications in the order that they are received.

(3) At the beginning of the next day of early voting, and each subsequent day of early voting through the 5th day before the election, a daily opening inspection shall again be conducted prior to the machine being placed in use for that day's early voting. The registrar and election officials shall follow the procedures detailed above and verify that the counter and seal numbers match those recorded during the preceding day's closing inspection, detailed below in rule 1360-2-15-.09. If the numbers do not match, a written report shall be made of the numbers, the machine involved, and the names of the individuals present. This report shall be forwarded to the State Coordinator of Elections as well as to the chairman and secretary of the county election commission. This machine shall not be used further without authorization from the State Coordinator of Elections.