Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), (c), or (d), immediately after:

(1) the couriers have returned the certificate from a precinct under IC 3-11.5-4-9; and

(2) the absentee ballot counters or the county election board has made the findings required under IC 3-11-10 and IC 3-11.5-4 for the absentee ballots cast by voters of the precinct and deposited the accepted absentee ballots in the envelope required under IC 3-11.5-4-12;

the absentee ballot counters shall, in a central counting location designated by the county election board, count the absentee ballot votes for each candidate for each office and on each public question in the precinct with the assistance of any persons required for the operation of the automatic tabulating machine.

(b) This subsection does not apply to a county having a consolidated city. This subsection applies to a county that:

(1) has adopted an order to use an electronic poll book under IC 3-7-29-6(a)(1); or

(2) is a vote center county under IC 3-11-18.1.

Immediately after the electronic poll books used at each polling place or vote center have been updated to indicate that the county received, not later than noon on election day, an absentee ballot from a voter, the absentee ballot counters shall, in a central counting location designated by the county election board, count the absentee ballot votes cast for each candidate for each office and on each public question in the precinct.

(c) This subsection applies to a county having a consolidated city, if the county:

(1) has adopted an order to use an electronic poll book under IC 3-7-29-6(a)(1); or

(2) is a vote center county under IC 3-11-18.1.

After the receipt and processing required under IC 3-11.5-4-11(c) to process an absentee ballot from a voter and after ensuring that the electronic poll books used in each polling place or vote center have been updated to reflect all absentee ballots received by the county not later than 12:01 a.m. on election day, the absentee ballot counters shall, at any time after 6:00 a.m. on election day, in a central counting location designated by the county election board, count the absentee ballot votes cast for each candidate, for each office, and on each public question.

(d) This subsection applies to a county other than a county having a consolidated city, if the county election board has adopted a resolution by the unanimous vote of the entire membership of the board to use procedures set forth in this subsection, and the county:

(1) has adopted an order to use an electronic poll book under IC 3-7-29-6(a)(1); or

(2) is a vote center county under IC 3-11-18.1.

After the receipt and processing required under IC 3-11.5-4-11(d) to process an absentee ballot from a voter and after ensuring that the electronic poll books used in each polling place or vote center have been updated to reflect all absentee ballots received by the county not later than 12:01 a.m. on election day, the absentee ballot counters shall, at any time after 6:00 a.m. on election day, in a central counting location designated by the county election board, count the absentee ballot votes cast for each candidate, for each office, and on each public question.

(e) A resolution adopted under subsection (d) may be repealed or amended only by the unanimous vote of the entire membership of the county election board.

As added by P.L.3-1993, SEC.176 and P.L.19-1993, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.271-2013, SEC.34; P.L.76-2014, SEC.53; P.L.169-2015, SEC.145; P.L.100-2018, SEC.18; P.L.210-2018, SEC.4.