24.2-624 - Opening and closing ballot containers; opening polls.
§ 24.2-624. Opening and closing ballot containers; opening polls.
Immediately before the opening of the polls, an officer of election shallopen the ballot containers in the presence of the political party orcandidate representatives authorized to be present for the examination ofvoting equipment pursuant to § 24.2-639, if such representatives areavailable. The officers shall inspect the containers to ensure that they areempty, lock them, and deliver the key to one of the officers. One of theofficers shall forthwith proclaim that the polls are open. The containersshall not be opened until the close of the polls and shall then be opened forthe purpose of counting the ballots therein. The containers shall be kept inview of those voting within the polling place during the hours of theelection.
(Code 1950, §§ 24-242, 24-243; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-124; 1972, c. 620; 1993,c. 641; 2003, c. 1015.)