10 ILCS 5/24C-12
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 10 - ELECTIONS|10 ILCS 5/ - Election Code.|Article 24C - Direct Recording Electronic Voting Systems

Sec. 24C-12. Procedures for counting and tallying of  ballots. In an election jurisdiction where a Direct Recording  Electronic Voting System is used, the following procedures for  counting and tallying the ballots shall apply:Before the opening of the polls, the judges of elections  shall assemble the voting equipment and devices and turn the  equipment on.  The judges shall, if necessary, take steps to  activate the voting devices and counting equipment by inserting  into the equipment and voting devices appropriate data cards  containing passwords and data codes that will select the proper  ballot formats selected for that polling place and that will  prevent inadvertent or unauthorized activation of the poll-opening function.  Before voting begins and before ballots are  entered into the voting devices, the judges of election shall  cause to be printed a record of the following: the election's  identification data, the device's unit identification, the  ballot's format identification, the contents of each active  candidate register by office and of each active public question  register showing that they contain all zero votes, all ballot  fields that can be used to invoke special voting options, and  other information needed to ensure the readiness of the  equipment and to accommodate administrative reporting  requirements.  The judges must also check to be sure that the  totals are all zeros in the counting columns and in the public  counter affixed to the voting devices.After the judges have determined that a person is qualified  to vote, a voting device with the proper ballot to which the  voter is entitled shall be enabled to be used by the voter.  The  ballot may then be cast by the voter by marking by appropriate  means the designated area of the ballot for the casting of a  vote for any candidate or for or against any public question.  The voter shall be able to vote for any and all candidates and  public measures appearing on the ballot in any legal number and  combination and the voter shall be able to delete, change or  correct his or her selections before the ballot is cast.  The  voter shall be able to select candidates whose names do not  appear upon the ballot for any office by entering electronically  as many names of candidates as the voter is entitled to select  for each office.Upon completing his or her selection of candidates or  public questions, the voter shall signify that voting has been  completed by activating the appropriate button, switch or active  area of the ballot screen associated with end of voting.  Upon  activation, the voting system shall record an image of the  completed ballot, increment the proper ballot position  registers, and shall signify to the voter that the ballot has  been cast.  Upon activation, the voting system shall also print  a permanent paper record of each ballot cast as defined in  Section 24C-2 of this Code.  This permanent paper record shall  (i) be printed in a clear, readily readable format that can be easily reviewed by the voter for completeness and accuracy and (ii) either be self-contained within the voting device or be  deposited by the voter into a secure ballot box.  No permanent  paper record shall be removed from the polling place except by  election officials as authorized by this Article.  All permanent  paper records shall be preserved and secured by election  officials in the same manner as paper ballots and shall be  available as an official record for any recount, redundant  count, or verification or retabulation of the vote count  conducted with respect to any election in which the voting  system is used.    The voter shall exit the voting station and  the voting system shall prevent any further attempt to vote  until it has been properly re-activated.  If a voting device has  been enabled for voting but the voter leaves the polling place  without casting a ballot, 2 judges of election, one from each of  the 2 major political parties, shall spoil the ballot.Throughout the election day and before the closing of the  polls, no person may check any vote totals for any candidate or  public question on the voting or counting equipment.  Such  equipment shall be programmed so that no person may reset the  equipment for reentry of ballots unless provided the proper code  from an authorized representative of the election authority.The precinct judges of election shall check the public  register to determine whether the number of ballots counted by  the voting equipment agrees with the number of voters voting as  shown by the applications for ballot.  If the same do not agree,  the judges of election shall immediately contact the offices of  the election authority in charge of the election for further  instructions.  If the number of ballots counted by the voting  equipment agrees with the number of voters voting as shown by  the application for ballot, the number shall be listed on the  "Statement of Ballots" form provided by the election authority.The totals for all candidates and propositions shall be tabulated. One copy of an "In-Precinct Totals Report" shall be generated by the automatic tabulating equipment for return to the election authority. One copy of an "In-Precinct Totals Report" shall be generated and posted in a conspicuous place inside the polling place, provided that any authorized pollwatcher or other official authorized to be present in the polling place to observe the counting of ballots is present. The judges of election shall provide, if requested, a set for each authorized pollwatcher or other official authorized to be present in the polling place to observe the counting of ballots.    In addition, sufficient time  shall be provided by the judges of election to the pollwatchers  to allow them to copy information from the copy which has been  posted.Until December 31, 2019, in elections at which fractional cumulative votes are cast for candidates, the tabulation of those fractional cumulative votes may be made by the election authority at its central office location, and 4 copies of a "Certificate of Results" shall be printed by the automatic tabulation equipment and shall be posted in 4 conspicuous places at the central office location where those fractional cumulative votes have been tabulated.If instructed by the election authority, the judges of  election shall cause the tabulated returns to be transmitted  electronically to the offices of the election authority via  modem or other electronic medium.The precinct judges of election shall select a bi-partisan  team of 2 judges, who shall immediately return the ballots in a  sealed container, along with all other election materials and  equipment as instructed by the election authority; provided,  however, that such container must first be sealed by the  election judges with filament tape or other approved sealing  devices provided for the purpose in a manner that the ballots  cannot be removed from the container without breaking the seal  or filament tape and disturbing any signatures affixed by the  election judges to the container.  The election authority shall  keep the office of the election authority, or any receiving  stations designated by the authority, open for at least 12  consecutive hours after the polls close or until the ballots and  election material and equipment from all precincts within the  jurisdiction of the election authority have been returned to the  election authority.  Ballots and election materials and  equipment returned to the office of the election authority which  are not signed and sealed as required by law shall not be  accepted by the election authority until the judges returning  the ballots make and sign the necessary corrections.  Upon  acceptance of the ballots and election materials and equipment  by the election authority, the judges returning the ballots  shall take a receipt signed by the election authority and  stamped with the time and date of the return.  The election  judges whose duty it is to return any ballots and election  materials and equipment as provided shall, in the event the  ballots, materials or equipment cannot be found when needed, on  proper request, produce the receipt which they are to take as  above provided.  (Source: P.A. 99-522, eff. 6-30-16; 99-701, eff. 7-29-16.)