16-615

16-615. Delivery of returns

A. Before it adjourns, the election board or tally board shall enclose and seal in a strong envelope provided for that purpose one of the poll lists and one of the tally lists, signed as required, and the stubs of the voted ballots and shall direct it to the board of supervisors.

B. The envelope containing the poll list, the tally list and the stubs of the voted ballots shall constitute the official returns of the election and shall, together with the envelope containing the voted ballots, be delivered to one of the members of the election board or tally board, previously determined by lot, unless otherwise agreed upon, and such member shall by himself, or by an agent agreed upon by the board and sworn by a member thereof, in the presence of the board to faithfully perform the duties of election messenger, without delay, and by the most expeditious means and route, deliver the packages and envelopes, without opening them, to the officer in charge of the election at his office, or to the nearest postmaster or sworn express agent, who shall endorse on the packages and envelopes the name of the person delivering them, and the hour and date of the delivery, and forward the packages and envelopes by the first mail or express to the officer in charge of the election at the county seat.