§572. Transmission of election returns; voting machine keys; machine certificates

A.(1) After the results are printed from the voting machines and all election paperwork is complete, the commissioner-in-charge shall immediately:

(a) Mail to the secretary of state the envelope marked "Secretary of State's Envelope".

(b) Deliver to the clerk of court in a clear plastic zipper bag the following:

(i) The completed and signed key envelope for the voting machines.

(ii) The original of the machine certificates.

(iii) The original affidavit of payroll and nondisclosure for the commissioners.

(iv) One copy of the official election results report from the voting machines.

(v) A copy of each completed notation of irregularities form.

(vi) All election result cartridges, if applicable.

(vii) For a federal election, the return provisional ballot envelope containing all voted provisional ballots and unused provisional ballots and envelopes.

(2)(a) Upon receipt of the items listed in Subparagraph (1)(b) of this Subsection, the clerk of court shall affix the time of receipt upon the election documents which contain election results. The clerk of court shall make a copy of the election results available to the press and public.

(b) For a federal election, the clerk of court shall deliver to the registrar of voters the return provisional ballot envelope containing all voted provisional ballots not later than 8:30 a.m. on the first business day following the election.

B. The commissioner-in-charge shall complete the procedures prescribed by this Section not later than 12:00 o'clock midnight on the day of the election. Failure to comply with this time limit shall not void the election.

Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 506, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981. Acts 1983, No. 519, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1985, No. 754, §2; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 1381, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2006, No. 403, §2, eff. Jan 1, 2007; Acts 2007, No. 240, §2; Acts 2017, No. 176, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2018, No. 584, §2.