Chapter 12   Central Counting Location

1. Before Election Day

There is one function at the central counting location that happens before Election Day, that is Vote by Mail Panel — Examination of the Certification Envelopes.

This can happen as early as 40 days before the election, the day that vote by mail ballots are mailed out or available at the office of the election authority (i.e., the Office of the County Clerk or the office of the local Board of Elections).

It must happen within it must happen within two days of receipt of a vote by mail ballot.

2. Election Night

Election night, the ballots from each precinct is taken to the central counting location and tallied against the precinct count.

Whenever the ballot box/vote tabulator at the central counting location is not secured that ballot box/vote tabulator is on public view and a poll watcher should be there. It does not matter if there is a 24-notice or not, an unsecured ballot box/vote tabulator is on public view. Any obstruction to viewing the unsecured ballot box/vote tabulator shall be referred first to an election judge and, if the obstruction persists, then to the sheriff. Whenever the room where ballot box/vote tabulator is located is unlocked, or the central counting location is in use, a poll watcher should be there.

The time, date, and location of sessions of the central counting location are to be made public within 24 hours before the session begins.

All ballots entering the central county location are contained in sealed security envelopes or in sealed security containers.

3. After Election Day

All other votes go to the central counting location to be counted.

That includes:
• Grace Period Votes
• Early voting ballots
• Vote by Mail Ballots
• Provisional Ballots

The number of observers and poll watchers allowed at the central counting location are "at the discretion of the election authority". An exception is "least one representative of each established political party" "shall be permitted to observe this process at all times". Authorized agents of the State Board of Elections are also permitted to observe at all times.

"At all times" is whenever the central counting location is in use,

1. from the examination of the ballot box/vote tabulator before tabulation of the first early voting ballot (anywhere from 40 days before the election until election day),
2. through delivery by the election judges of ballots and election documents after the polls close on election night after the polls close,
3. to the proclamation of result fourteen days or sooner after the election.

1. After the Election

Ipsum.