21-A §651. Furnishing and distribution
Title 21-A: ELECTIONS
Chapter 9: CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
Subchapter 2: ELECTION PROCEDURE
Article 1: MATERIALS
§651. Furnishing and distribution
The following procedure shall be observed on election day. [1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
1. Election materials sent to voting place. Before the polls are opened, the clerk shall deliver or have delivered the election materials marked for each voting place to the warden at that voting place. The warden shall give the clerk a receipt noting the number of ballots received after the election officials have opened the boxes of ballots and verified the contents.
A. Notwithstanding section 606, subsection 3, in a municipality that has an island voting district, the clerk may deliver the ballots and other election materials to that district on the day before the election and leave them in the protective custody of the warden or ward clerk. [2001, c. 516, §9 (AMD).]
[ 2001, c. 516, §9 (AMD) .]
2. Election materials distributed and posted. At any time after the materials are received and before the polls are open, the clerk may open the packages or boxes of election materials, break the seals on the packages not marked "ballots," and use the materials for instructional purposes. The election officials shall post one instruction poster in each voting booth and at least one instruction poster outside the guardrail where it is visible to voters before they have voted. The election officials shall also post one set of sample ballots or one set of sample ballot labels for each ballot being used in that voting place, along with one poster of the constitutional resolutions and statewide referenda, outside the guardrail where they are visible to voters. The election officials shall post a list of any declared write-in candidates for that voting district, with the office sought, next to the sample ballot.
[ 2009, c. 253, §25 (AMD) .]
2-A. Testing electronic voting systems.
[ 1995, c. 459, §55 (RP) .]
2-B. Opening of ballot packages. No more than one hour before the opening of the polls, the warden shall break the seals on the packages containing the ballots and distribute the ballots to the election clerks in charge of them. The breaking of the seals on the packages containing the ballots is a public proceeding and any member of the public may be present.
[ 2003, c. 584, §8 (AMD) .]
3. Ballot box examined. Before opening the ballots, the warden shall open the official ballot box, examine it and show publicly that it is empty. Immediately after examination, the warden shall lock the box and deliver the key to the ward clerk who shall keep it until the polls are closed. After the box has been locked, it may not be moved until the polls are closed.
[ 1997, c. 436, §94 (AMD) .]
4. Voting starts. As soon as the duties required by subsections 1 to 3 have been performed, the warden shall permit voting to start.
[ 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW) .]
SECTION HISTORY
1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW). 1985, c. 272, (AMD). 1991, c. 347, §§3,4 (AMD). 1995, c. 459, §55 (AMD). 1997, c. 436, §§92-94 (AMD). 2001, c. 310, §34 (AMD). 2001, c. 516, §9 (AMD). 2003, c. 584, §8 (AMD). 2009, c. 253, §25 (AMD).