| (a) If the early-voting ballot board convenes before election
day, the presiding judge shall, upon each adjournment of the board, lock and
seal each ballot box prior to returning the boxes to the custodian of records.
The judge shall complete a ballot-box security form showing each serial number
used to seal each box. The form shall be signed by the judge and another early-voting
ballot board member who have witnessed the procedure. In a general election
for state and county officers, the early-voting ballot board member must be
from a different political party than the judge. The custodian of records
shall also sign the form.
(b) The presiding judge shall retain the key(s) used to lock
the ballot box(es). In the event that the judge is unwilling to retain the
key, the key shall be retained by the authority designated in accordance with §66.060(a)
of the Code.
(c) Upon reconvening the ballot board, the presiding judge
shall ensure that each ballot box is intact. The presiding judge shall follow
these procedures each day except upon final delivery to the custodian of records
or delivery to the central counting station.
(d) If it is impracticable for the ballot-board judge to deliver
the ballot boxes each day upon adjournment, the authority conducting the election
shall submit to the Office of the Secretary of State an alternative plan for
the security of the ballots for approval.
|
