Chapter 6. Before the Polls Open

6.C. Examine The Ballot Box/Tabulator

6.C.6. Observe the Election Judge Sign And Secure the Zero Tape

Once the tape confirms that the tabulator holds no votes, the Election Judges will sign the zero tape with the poll watcher observing.

The poll watcher does not receive a copy of this tape.

All election judges sign the tape if:

  • The Polling Place consists of one precinct,
  • The Polling Place accepts ballots county-wide or jurisdiction-wide, or
  • The tabulator accepts ballots from multiple precincts.

If the Polling Place represents multiple precincts (see: Clustered Voting Zones) and each precinct has its own tabulator, then only the Election Judges representing the precinct will sign the tape for the tabulator assigned to that precinct.

The tape is then secured for return to the office of the Election Authority and, ultimately, to the State Board of Elections.

Relevant Illinois State Law

In addition, in those polling places where in-precinct Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology counting equipment is utilized, the judges of election shall make an operational check of the automatic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology tabulating equipment before the opening of the polls. The judges of election shall ensure that the totals are all zeroes in the count column on the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology unit.

10 ILCS 5/7-34

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