Sec. 1.9. (a) Before the opening of the polls, the precinct election board shall compare the ballots with the sample ballots and determine whether the names, numbers, and letters are in agreement. The board then shall certify that the ballots and the sample ballots are in agreement. Forms shall be provided for certification, and the certification shall be filed with the election returns.

     (b) This subsection applies when the county election board provides a precinct with a printed sample ballot under section 1.7 of this chapter. The inspector of each precinct, or a person under the direction of the inspector, shall post sample ballots near the entrance of the chute for the precinct. The ballots must be available for public inspection throughout election day.

     (c) This subsection applies when the county election board provides a precinct with an electronic form of the sample ballot under section 1.7 of this chapter. The inspector of the precinct, or a person under the direction of the inspector, shall post a notice near the entrance of the chute for the precinct that the sample ballot for the precinct is available for review on an electronic device. The sample ballot must be made available for public inspection throughout election day.

     (d) This subsection applies to a county using vote centers. Not later than the first date that a voter may cast a ballot at a vote center, the county election board shall do both of the following:

(1) Make the comparison between the sample ballots, regular official ballots, and provisional ballots described in subsection (a).

(2) Certify that the ballots are in agreement.

A copy of the certification shall be entered into the minutes of the county election board.

     (e) This subsection applies to a county using vote centers. The county election board shall do both of the following:

(1) Have copies of each sample ballot for each precinct available for inspection by a voter at each vote center.

(2) Post a notice in the vote center stating that sample ballots are available for inspection upon request by the voter.

     (f) This subsection applies to a county using vote centers when the county election board provides the vote center with an electronic form of the sample ballot under section 1.7 of this chapter. The inspector of the vote center, or a person under the direction of the inspector, shall post a notice near the entrance of the chute for the vote center that the sample ballots for each precinct in the county are available for review on an electronic device. The sample ballots must be made available for public inspection throughout election day.

As added by P.L.3-1987, SEC.274. Amended by P.L.278-2019, SEC.101; P.L.227-2023, SEC.89.