13-15-201. Preparation for count. (1) To begin the count after the close of the polls, the election judges shall take ballots out of the box unopened to determine whether each ballot is single. The election judges shall remove each absentee ballot secrecy envelope and open it to determine whether the ballot for each election is single. A ballot must be rejected if in the envelope there is more than one ballot for each election.
     (2) They shall count the ballots to ensure that the number of ballots corresponds with the number of names on the pollbook.
     (3) If they cannot reconcile the total number of ballots with the pollbook, they shall submit a written report stating how many ballots were missing or in excess and any reason of which they are aware for the discrepancy. All judges shall sign the report.
     (4) A ballot that is not endorsed by the official stamp is void and may not be counted unless the judges agree that the stamp is missing because of their error. The ballot must be marked "unstamped by error" on the back and must be initialed by all judges.
     (5) If two or more ballots are folded together to look like a single ballot, they must be laid aside until the count is complete. The election judges shall compare the count with the pollbooks, and if a majority believes that the ballots folded together were voted by one elector, they must be rejected; otherwise they must be counted.

     History: En. Sec. 172, Ch. 368, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 23-4002; amd. Sec. 152, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 242, L. 1997.