When preparing, inspecting and sealing voting machines, the county clerk shall:

A. certify to the secretary of state and the county chair of each political party participating in the election the type and serial number of each voting machine intended to be used in each polling location, by precinct number, where applicable;

B. prepare, in the presence of those persons entitled to be present, the electronic voting machines for the election as follows:

(1) all public, candidate and question counters shall be set at zero;

(2) each such counter shall be tested for accuracy by casting votes upon it until it correctly registers each vote cast;

(3) each such counter shall be reset at zero and the voting machine shall be immediately sealed with a numbered metal seal so as to prevent operation of the machine or its registering counters without breaking the seal; and

(4) on the certificate for that voting machine there shall be recorded:

(a) the number on the seal; and

(b) the reading shown on the protective counter; and

C. seal and retain the logic and accuracy test printout, known as the internal audit trail, until it may be disposed of pursuant to Section 1-12-69 NMSA 1978.

History: 1953 Comp., § 3-11-7, enacted by Laws 1969, ch. 240, § 216; 1985, ch. 207, § 25; 1989, ch. 392, § 21; 2011, ch. 137, § 75.

Cross references. — For challengers, inspection of voting machines, see 1-2-23 NMSA 1978.

For watchers, inspection of voting machines, see 1-2-29 NMSA 1978.

The 2011 amendment, effective July 1, 2011, required county clerks to seal and retain the logic and accuracy test printout until it may be disposed of pursuant to Section 1-12-69 NMSA 1978.