Montana Code 13-15-207. Counting board procedures
13-15-207. Counting board procedures. (1) After ballots have been prepared pursuant to 13-15-201, the election administrator may arrange for the vote count to begin no sooner than 1 day before election day, or immediately upon the closure of the polls, in the manner prescribed in this section.
Terms Used In Montana Code 13-15-207
- Election: means a general, special, or primary election held pursuant to the requirements of state law, regardless of the time or purpose. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Election administrator: means , except as provided in subsection (14)(b), the county clerk and recorder or the individual designated by a county governing body to be responsible for all election administration duties, except that with regard to school elections not administered by the county, the term means the school district clerk. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Election judge: means a person who is appointed pursuant to Title 13, chapter 4, part 1, to perform duties as specified by law. See Montana Code 13-1-101
- Individual: means a human being. See Montana Code 13-1-101
(2)When a count is conducted after the polls have closed, the counting board shall:
(a)meet at a place designated by the election administrator;
(b)continue counting until the votes cast for all candidates and issues are counted; and
(c)count votes as prescribed in 13-15-206.
(3)When votes are counted prior to the close of the polls:
(a)the election administrator shall make provisions for the delivery of voted ballots to the counting center at any time prior to the closing of the polls;
(b)the board must be located in a room separate from the room where ballots are being cast;
(c)the ballots may be processed and counted as they are received;
(d)an election judge or other individual having access to early count results is subject to 13-35-241; and
(e)votes must be counted as prescribed in 13-15-206.
(4)(a) When votes are being counted prior to the close of the polls, in addition to the official oath taken and subscribed to by the election judges, the members of the counting board and observers shall complete and sign the following affirmation: “I, _____, will not discuss the results of the early counting of votes at any time prior to the closing of the polls on election day.”
(b)The election administrator or chief election judge shall witness and sign the affirmation in subsection (4)(a).