The Florida Senate

101.45  Election board opening polls.--

(1)  The election board of each precinct shall attend the polling place by 6 a.m. of the day of the election and shall arrange the furniture, stationery, and voting machines. The keys to the machines shall be delivered to the election officers by 6 a.m. of the day of the election in a sealed envelope on which shall be written or printed the number and location of the machine, the number of the seal, and the number registered on the protective counter or device, as reported by the custodian. The said envelope shall not be opened until at least one member of the board from each of two political parties is present and shall have examined the envelope to see that same has not been opened. Before opening the envelope, the election officers present shall examine the number on the seal on the machine, also the number registered on the protective counter, and see if they are the same as the number written on the envelope. If they are not the same, the custodian or an authorized person must be present when the machine is opened to reexamine such machine and certify that it is properly arranged. If the numbers are found to agree with those on the envelope, the election officer shall proceed to open the doors concealing the counters and each officer shall carefully examine every counter and see that it registers zero, and same is subject to the inspection of official watchers. The machine shall remain locked against voting until the polls are opened, and only electors shall operate same.

(2)  If any counter is found not to register at zero, the board of election shall immediately notify the custodian, who shall adjust such counters at zero, but if it is impracticable for the custodian to arrive in time to adjust such counters, the election officers shall immediately make a written statement of the designating letter and number of such counter, together with the number registered thereon, and shall sign and post same upon the wall of the polling room, and it shall remain throughout election day. In filling out the statement of canvass, they shall subtract such number from the total then registered thereon.

(3)  If the machine is equipped with a device or devices which produce a printed record of the register shown on the candidate and amendment counters, the board of elections of each precinct shall take the necessary steps to secure such printed record from each machine. In the event any counter is found not to register at zero, and if, upon notification, it is impracticable for the custodian to arrive in time to adjust such counter, the board of elections shall post the printed record from such machine in a conspicuous place in such precinct. In filling out the statement of canvass, they shall subtract such number from the total then registered thereon.

History.--s. 17, ch. 13893, 1929; CGL 1936 Supp. 337(17); s. 5, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 21, ch. 65-380; s. 3, ch. 69-281; s. 18, ch. 77-175.

Note.--Former s. 100.17.