(10 ILCS 5/24-16) (from Ch. 46, par. 24-16)
Sec. 24-16.
The precinct election officers shall then ascertain the
number of votes which the candidates received both on the machine or
machines, and by the voting of irregular ballots, if any. Except when
the machine is equipped with a device which will automatically record
the registering column on the back of the machine to sheets of paper
giving the accurate vote cast for each candidate. Two precinct election
officials, not members of the same political party, shall write the
totals in figures, in ink, for such candidate on the duplicate return
sheets provided for that purpose, while one election officer announces
in a distinct voice the total vote cast for each candidate thus
ascertained in the order of the offices as their titles are arranged on
the ballot label, and the remaining precinct election official or
officials, if any, shall be stationed at the counter compartment of the
voting machine being canvassed and shall watch each total as it is being
called out from the registering counters. Each precinct election
official who is recording the totals on the return sheets shall
distinctly repeat each total as it is announced from the counter of the
voting machine. The totals of each machine for each candidate shall be
recorded on the return sheets in such a manner that they may be
identified by the serial number of the voting machine. The vote both for
and against each question or other proposition shall also be announced
and recorded in the same manner as the vote for the candidates. When the
machine is equipped with a device which will automatically record the
registering column on the back of the machine to recording sheets of
paper giving the accurate vote cast for each candidate then the totals
cast for each candidate or each question or proposition shall be called
out the same as if they were being read from the Counter Compartment of
the voting machine, provided however the paper recording sheet shall
constitute the return sheet for the precinct or consolidated area and no
return sheets shall be required. When more than one voting machine is
used in the same election precinct, the canvass of the first machine
shall be completed before the second and so on. When the canvass of all
totals shall have been completed, the precinct election board shall
canvass all vote by mail ballots in the same manner provided by law for
canvassing paper ballots. The totals of the vote by mail votes for each
candidate and for each question or other proposition shall be recorded
on the return sheets under the totals from the voting machines and the
final total of the votes received by each candidate, and each
constitutional amendment, question or other proposition, shall be
ascertained and recorded in the space provided for that purpose on the
return sheets. Upon the completion of the canvass as hereinbefore
provided, one of the precinct election officials shall, in a loud and
distinct voice announce the total votes received by each candidate, and
the total votes cast both for and against each constitutional amendment,
question or other proposition, and such proclamation shall be made
slowly enough so as to enable anyone desiring to do so, to record each
such result as it is announced. Except where a voting machine is
equipped with an automatic recording sheet when the proclamation is
completed, the election official who announced the totals from the
counters of the machine or machines, shall take his place at one of the
return sheets and one of the election officials of the opposite party
who has completed the recording of the returns on the return sheets
shall take his place at the counter compartment of the voting machine
first canvassed, and he shall then proceed to announce each total on
each registering counter in the same manner as it was done for the first
canvass. Before the recheck of the voting machine is begun, the two
precinct election officials who are to recheck the totals on the return
sheets shall exchange return sheets and each election official shall
then, as the canvass proceeds, check each total as it is announced from
the registering counters of the voting machine or machines for the
second time. As each total is announced each precinct election official
who is checking the totals on the return sheets shall repeat in a loud
and distinct voice each total as it is announced. If any errors in the
original canvass are discovered they shall be corrected at once in the
presence of all the precinct election officials and a certificate shall
be prepared and signed by each such election official, setting forth
which errors were discovered and what corrections were made, and such
certificate shall be made in duplicate and one filed with each return
sheet. During the process of rechecking each total on the machines, the
precinct election official or officials, if any, who at the original
canvass acted as watcher or watchers at the registering counters of the
machines, shall in the same manner verify the accuracy of each total as
it is announced from the machine or machines and is repeated by the two
precinct election officials who are rechecking the totals as written on
the return sheets. When this recheck is completed the entire precinct
election board shall take one of the return sheets and fold it in
accordion pleats approximately ten inches wide with the face of the
return sheet out, in such a manner that each pleat can easily be turned
as the final recheck proceeds. The entire precinct election board shall
then begin at the voting machine first canvassed and each such election
official shall, simultaneously with the other such election officials,
and in the presence of each other, examine each registering counter on
the voting machine, and immediately examine the corresponding record for
that counter, as it is written on the return sheet, and shall satisfy
himself that both numbers are the same. Each total on each voting
machine shall be as examined and when such examination has been
completed, the entire precinct election board shall then compare each
total on such return sheet with the corresponding total on the duplicate
return sheet and each precinct election official shall satisfy himself
that all totals are the same on both return sheets. Each precinct
election official shall sign a certificate stating that each step in the
canvass of the voting machines, as provided herein, has been carefully
and faithfully carried out in every detail. If any errors are discovered
during the final recheck of the registering counters and comparison of
the duplicate return sheets, such errors shall be corrected at once, and
each precinct election official shall sign a certificate stating which
errors were found and what corrections were made and such corrections
shall be made in the presence of all the precinct election officials.
The precinct election board shall then canvass the irregular ballot in
substantially the same manner as the law provides for canvassing the
returns for paper ballots, and shall record the results thereof on the
return sheets in the space provided for that purpose. Before leaving the
room and before closing and locking the counting compartment, each
precinct election official shall make and sign the certificate and
written statements and the return sheets of such election as provided by
law. In precincts where the voting machines are equipped with the
automatic recording sheet and two or more machines the total vote cast
for each candidate, question or proposition from each machine shall be
recorded separately on the statement of votes as provided for in Section
18-14, and the grand total of all votes appearing on the recording
sheets shall be recorded on the statement of votes and proclaimed by the
judges in the same manner as is herein provided for proclamation of
votes from the return sheets. All vote by mail ballots and irregular ballots
of each voting machine shall be returned to the proper officer together
with the return sheets and certificates and supplies and such vote by mail
ballots and irregular machine ballots shall be preserved and finally
destroyed as is now provided by law when paper ballots are used. The
written statements or returns so made, after having been properly
signed, shall be distinctly and clearly read in the hearing of all
persons present in the polling place, and ample opportunity shall be
given to compare the results so certified with the counter dials of the
machine. After such comparison and correction, if any is made, the
precinct election officials shall then close the counting compartment
and lock the same. Thereafter the voting machine shall remain locked and
sealed against voting for a period of at least 30 days, after the
results of the election have been declared, unless otherwise ordered by
the circuit court: provided, however, upon application to the circuit
court, the circuit judge may order the said machines opened prior to the
thirty day period herein required to be closed. The circuit court in its
order shall specify the manner in which the count recorded on the
machines shall be taken and preserved: provided, however, when the
machines are equipped with any recording or photographic device on which
votes registered on the mechanical counters will be separately recorded
or photographed, as provided in Section 24-18 hereof, and it is
necessary to use said machines at an election occurring within said 30
days, then after the machines have remained locked for a period of 48
hours they may be prepared for such subsequent election as herein
provided. Whenever it is necessary to reset the machines for another
election prior to the time limit for the filing of election contests, it
shall be the duty of the proper officials to make a photographic record
of the machines involved to be used in case of an election contest,
whereupon the machines may be set back to zero and arranged for the next
election.
(Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)
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