SECTIONS 19370-19371 - California Statutes

ELECTIONS CODE

SECTION 19370-19371

19370. As soon as the polls are closed, the precinct board, in the
presence of the watchers and all others lawfully present, shall
immediately lock the voting machine against voting and open the
counting compartments, giving full view of all counter numbers. A
board member shall, in the order of the offices as their titles are
arranged on the machine, read and distinctly announce the name or
designating number and letter on each counter for each candidate's
name and the result as shown by the counter numbers. He or she shall
also in the same manner announce the vote on each measure.
If the machine is provided with a recording device, in lieu of
opening the counter compartment, the precinct board shall proceed to
operate the mechanism to produce the statement of return of votes
cast record in a minimum of three copies, remove the irregular
ballot, if any, record on the statement of return of votes cast
record. The irregular ballot shall be attached to the statement of
result record of votes cast for the machine and become a part
thereof. One copy of the statement of return of votes cast for each
machine shall be posted upon the outside wall of the precinct for all
to see. To protect a person's right to cast a secret ballot under
Section 7 of Article II of the California Constitution, in cases
where fewer than 10 voters cast ballots on any single machine on
which the results are tallied at the precinct, the precinct board
shall post only the total number of people who voted at that precinct
on the machine that keeps vote tallies. The statement of return of
votes cast for each machine for the precinct shall constitute the
precinct statement of result of votes cast.

19371. Before adjourning, the precinct board shall seal the
operating lever with the seal provided and lock the machine so that
the voting and counting mechanism may not be operated.
It shall remain locked and sealed against operation until the time
for filing a contest of election has expired, which shall not exceed
a period of 30 days following the declaration of the result of the
election by the body canvassing the returns.