AI-assisted research summary: This provision tells precinct officials how to count ballots after polls close, and allows some electronic ballot counting before close if votes are not disclosed early.
(a) In an election using the paper ballot voting system, immediately after the close of the polls, the chairperson of the precinct officials shall open the ballot box. The precinct officials at the precinct shall proceed to count the votes as follows: (1) The whole number of ballots shall first be counted to see if their number corresponds with the number of ballots cast as recorded by the precinct officials; (2) If the number of ballots corresponds with the number of persons recorded by the precinct officials as having voted, the precinct officials shall then proceed to count the vote cast for each candidate; (3) If there are more ballots or less ballots than the record calls for the precinct officials shall proceed as directed in section 11-153. (b) In those precincts using the electronic voting system, the ballots shall be taken in the sealed ballot boxes to the counting center according to the procedure and schedule promulgated by the chief election officer to promote the security of the ballots. In the presence of official observers, counting center employees may start to count the ballots prior to the closing of the polls provided there shall be no printout by the computer or other disclosure of the number of votes cast for a candidate or on a question prior to the closing of the polls. For the purposes of this section, the closing of the polls is that time identified in section 11-131 as the closing hour of voting. [L 1970, c 26, pt of §2; am L 1973, c 217, §1(vv); am L 1975, c 36, §1(13); am L 1977, c 189, §1(10); am L 1980, c 264, §1(p); am L 1993, c 304, §7; gen ch 1993]