SECTION 230:35-3-84. Assembly line required for receiving returns and materials from Inspectors

  Before the first Inspector arrives, an assembly line shall be established for receiving the returns. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the County Election Board, the Secretary or employees of the Board may be involved in reception of voting devices, election supplies, and ballot transfer cases from Inspectors. When receiving returns, the following procedure shall be observed:

(1)   Representatives of the news media shall be assigned to a separate office or area. If available, a computer shall be placed in the media area to display the county's election results.

(2)   Appropriate receptacles shall be prepared and arranged for receiving items from Inspectors.

(3)   Inspectors shall form a line as they arrive, and shall be processed one at a time.

(4)   Receive the voting device. Verify that the luggage tag (or other means of identification if the luggage tag is not used) showing the precinct number is attached to the voting device.

(5)   Receive the Envelope for Tally Report. Open the envelope, verify that the following items are present, and examine them as necessary.

(A)   Examine the original voting device tape, which includes all information printed from the time the polls were opened, including the Power Up Report, the Zero Report, and the first Detail and Tally Report printed when the polls were closed. If the Detail and Tally Report is not included on the tape, open the voting device case, turn on the power and print the report. Attach the Detail and Tally Report to the voting device tape received in the envelope.

(B)   Examine the Ballot Accounting Form or Forms. Verify that they have been completed and signed by Precinct Officials.

(C)   The voting device key envelope shall be examined to be certain that the precinct number is written on it. The key envelope shall be set aside in a secure place.

(D)   If uncounted ballots from the emergency compartment are found in the Envelope for Tally Report, ask the Inspector to step aside and wait until the ballots can be scanned on the election night recount voting device and then be properly secured. Ask the Inspector if the ATI device was used by any voter to cast an audio ballot during the day. Examine the Detail and Tally Report, the Ballot Accounting Form or Forms, and the ATI Session Log form to verify that an ATI ballot was cast. If the ATI device was used, make note on the front of the Envelope for Tally Report. See 230:35-3-85.4

(6)   If all the necessary items from the Envelope for Tally Report are accounted for, transfer the voting device, the voting device tape, and the Ballot Accounting Form or Forms to the tabulation computer operator.

(7)   The sealed ballot transfer boxes shall be received and transferred to secure storage.

(A)   Examine the ballot transfer boxes to ensure that they have been properly sealed. If the long white State Election Board seal is missing or broken, immediately affix a short turquoise State Election Board seal to the ballot transfer box. The new seal shall be signed by the County Election Board members and the box for "Other" shall be checked. Write the reason the seal is being applied in the space provided.

(B)   In the event that the County Election Board must open a ballot transfer box on election night to retrieve an item enclosed in error inside the box by Precinct Officials, the Board members shall affix a short turquoise State Election Board seal to the box. The new seal shall be signed by the County Election Board members and the box for "Other" shall be checked. Write the reason the seal is being applied in the space provided.

(8)   Receive the sealed orange provisional ballot bag.

(A)   Remove the Provisional Ballot Roster from the clear plastic pocket on the bag. Make certain that the precinct number is indicated on the Provisional Ballot Roster before separating it from the bag.

(B)   Place the provisional ballot bag in a secure receptacle. Access to the provisional ballot bags shall be restricted to authorized County Election Board personnel.

(C)   Paperclip or staple the Provisional Ballot Roster pages together and set aside in a secure location. Access to these forms shall be restricted to authorized County Election Board personnel.

(9)   Receive and examine the Precinct Registries.

(10)   Receive and examine the Precinct Expense Claim Envelope and any unclaimed vouchers.

(11)   The Inspector shall sign the Precinct Expense Claim Envelope and receive his voucher for compensation and mileage if all other vouchers are accounted for.

(12)   Receive the election supply container and the Precinct Official Notebook and place them in appropriate receptacles.

(13)   Receive and store the American flag.

[Source: Amended at 9 Ok Reg 1231, eff 3-1-92 (emergency); Amended at 9 Ok Reg 2387, eff 7-1-92; Amended at 10 Ok Reg 2739, eff 7-1-93; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 2351, eff 7-1-00; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 1884, eff 7-1-05; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 351, eff 11-5-07 (emergency); Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1921, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 1672, eff 7-15-13; Amended at 36 Ok Reg 1554, eff 9-16-19]