§ 24-16

The precinct election officers shall then ascertain the number of votes which the candidates received both on the machine or machines, and by the voting of irregular ballots, if any. Except when the machine is equipped with a device which will automatically record the registering column on the back of the machine to sheets of paper giving the accurate vote cast for each candidate. Two precinct election officials, not members of the same political party, shall write the totals in figures, in ink, for such candidate on the duplicate return sheets provided for that purpose, while one election officer announces in a distinct voice the total vote cast for each candidate thus ascertained in the order of the offices as their titles are arranged on the ballot label, and the remaining precinct election official or officials, if any, shall be stationed at the counter compartment of the voting machine being canvassed and shall watch each total as it is being called out from the registering counters. Each precinct election official who is recording the totals on the return sheets shall distinctly repeat each total as it is announced from the counter of the voting machine. The totals of each machine for each candidate shall be recorded on the return sheets in such a manner that they may be identified by the serial number of the voting machine. The vote both for and against each question or other proposition shall also be announced and recorded in the same manner as the vote for the candidates. When the machine is equipped with a device which will automatically record the registering column on the back of the machine to recording sheets of paper giving the accurate vote cast for each candidate then the totals cast for each candidate or each question or proposition shall be called out the same as if they were being read from the Counter Compartment of the voting machine, provided however the paper recording sheet shall constitute the return sheet for the precinct or consolidated area and no return sheets shall be required. When more than one voting machine is used in the same election precinct, the canvass of the first machine shall be completed before the second and so on. When the canvass of all totals shall have been completed, the precinct election board shall canvass all vote by mail ballots in the same manner provided by law for canvassing paper ballots. The totals of the vote by mail votes for each candidate and for each question or other proposition shall be recorded on the return sheets under the totals from the voting machines and the final total of the votes received by each candidate, and each constitutional amendment, question or other proposition, shall be ascertained and recorded in the space provided for that purpose on the return sheets. Upon the completion of the canvass as hereinbefore provided, one of the precinct election officials shall, in a loud and distinct voice announce the total votes received by each candidate, and the total votes cast both for and against each constitutional amendment, question or other proposition, and such proclamation shall be made slowly enough so as to enable anyone desiring to do so, to record each such result as it is announced. Except where a voting machine is equipped with an automatic recording sheet when the proclamation is completed, the election official who announced the totals from the counters of the machine or machines, shall take his place at one of the return sheets and one of the election officials of the opposite party who has completed the recording of the returns on the return sheets shall take his place at the counter compartment of the voting machine first canvassed, and he shall then proceed to announce each total on each registering counter in the same manner as it was done for the first canvass. Before the recheck of the voting machine is begun, the two precinct election officials who are to recheck the totals on the return sheets shall exchange return sheets and each election official shall then, as the canvass proceeds, check each total as it is announced from the registering counters of the voting machine or machines for the second time. As each total is announced each precinct election official who is checking the totals on the return sheets shall repeat in a loud and distinct voice each total as it is announced. If any errors in the original canvass are discovered they shall be corrected at once in the presence of all the precinct election officials and a certificate shall be prepared and signed by each such election official, setting forth which errors were discovered and what corrections were made, and such certificate shall be made in duplicate and one filed with each return sheet. During the process of rechecking each total on the machines, the precinct election official or officials, if any, who at the original canvass acted as watcher or watchers at the registering counters of the machines, shall in the same manner verify the accuracy of each total as it is announced from the machine or machines and is repeated by the two precinct election officials who are rechecking the totals as written on the return sheets. When this recheck is completed the entire precinct election board shall take one of the return sheets and fold it in accordion pleats approximately ten inches wide with the face of the return sheet out, in such a manner that each pleat can easily be turned as the final recheck proceeds. The entire precinct election board shall then begin at the voting machine first canvassed and each such election official shall, simultaneously with the other such election officials, and in the presence of each other, examine each registering counter on the voting machine, and immediately examine the corresponding record for that counter, as it is written on the return sheet, and shall satisfy himself that both numbers are the same. Each total on each voting machine shall be as examined and when such examination has been completed, the entire precinct election board shall then compare each total on such return sheet with the corresponding total on the duplicate return sheet and each precinct election official shall satisfy himself that all totals are the same on both return sheets. Each precinct election official shall sign a certificate stating that each step in the canvass of the voting machines, as provided herein, has been carefully and faithfully carried out in every detail. If any errors are discovered during the final recheck of the registering counters and comparison of the duplicate return sheets, such errors shall be corrected at once, and each precinct election official shall sign a certificate stating which errors were found and what corrections were made and such corrections shall be made in the presence of all the precinct election officials. The precinct election board shall then canvass the irregular ballot in substantially the same manner as the law provides for canvassing the returns for paper ballots, and shall record the results thereof on the return sheets in the space provided for that purpose. Before leaving the room and before closing and locking the counting compartment, each precinct election official shall make and sign the certificate and written statements and the return sheets of such election as provided by law. In precincts where the voting machines are equipped with the automatic recording sheet and two or more machines the total vote cast for each candidate, question or proposition from each machine shall be recorded separately on the statement of votes as provided for in Section 18-14, and the grand total of all votes appearing on the recording sheets shall be recorded on the statement of votes and proclaimed by the judges in the same manner as is herein provided for proclamation of votes from the return sheets. All vote by mail ballots and irregular ballots of each voting machine shall be returned to the proper officer together with the return sheets and certificates and supplies and such vote by mail ballots and irregular machine ballots shall be preserved and finally destroyed as is now provided by law when paper ballots are used. The written statements or returns so made, after having been properly signed, shall be distinctly and clearly read in the hearing of all persons present in the polling place, and ample opportunity shall be given to compare the results so certified with the counter dials of the machine. After such comparison and correction, if any is made, the precinct election officials shall then close the counting compartment and lock the same. Thereafter the voting machine shall remain locked and sealed against voting for a period of at least 30 days, after the results of the election have been declared, unless otherwise ordered by the circuit court: provided, however, upon application to the circuit court, the circuit judge may order the said machines opened prior to the thirty day period herein required to be closed. The circuit court in its order shall specify the manner in which the count recorded on the machines shall be taken and preserved: provided, however, when the machines are equipped with any recording or photographic device on which votes registered on the mechanical counters will be separately recorded or photographed, as provided in Section 24-18 hereof, and it is necessary to use said machines at an election occurring within said 30 days, then after the machines have remained locked for a period of 48 hours they may be prepared for such subsequent election as herein provided. Whenever it is necessary to reset the machines for another election prior to the time limit for the filing of election contests, it shall be the duty of the proper officials to make a photographic record of the machines involved to be used in case of an election contest, whereupon the machines may be set back to zero and arranged for the next election.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15 .)