10 ILCS 5/24-16
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 10 - ELECTIONS|10 ILCS 5/ - Election Code.|Article 24 - Voting Machines

 (from Ch. 46, par. 24-16)Sec. 24-16.   The precinct election officers shall then ascertain the  number of votes which the candidates received both on the machine or  machines, and by the voting of irregular ballots, if any. Except when  the machine is equipped with a device which will automatically record  the registering column on the back of the machine to sheets of paper  giving the accurate vote cast for each candidate. Two precinct election  officials, not members of the same political party, shall write the  totals in figures, in ink, for such candidate on the duplicate return  sheets provided for that purpose, while one election officer announces  in a distinct voice the total vote cast for each candidate thus  ascertained in the order of the offices as their titles are arranged on  the ballot label, and the remaining precinct election official or  officials, if any, shall be stationed at the counter compartment of the  voting machine being canvassed and shall watch each total as it is being  called out from the registering counters. Each precinct election  official who is recording the totals on the return sheets shall  distinctly repeat each total as it is announced from the counter of the  voting machine. The totals of each machine for each candidate shall be  recorded on the return sheets in such a manner that they may be  identified by the serial number of the voting machine. The vote both for  and against each question or other proposition shall also be announced  and recorded in the same manner as the vote for the candidates. When the  machine is equipped with a device which will automatically record the  registering column on the back of the machine to recording sheets of  paper giving the accurate vote cast for each candidate then the totals  cast for each candidate or each question or proposition shall be called  out the same as if they were being read from the Counter Compartment of  the voting machine, provided however the paper recording sheet shall  constitute the return sheet for the precinct or consolidated area and no  return sheets shall be required. When more than one voting machine is  used in the same election precinct, the canvass of the first machine  shall be completed before the second and so on. When the canvass of all  totals shall have been completed, the precinct election board shall  canvass all vote by mail ballots in the same manner provided by law for  canvassing paper ballots. The totals of the vote by mail votes for each  candidate and for each question or other proposition shall be recorded  on the return sheets under the totals from the voting machines and the  final total of the votes received by each candidate, and each  constitutional amendment, question or other proposition, shall be  ascertained and recorded in the space provided for that purpose on the  return sheets. Upon the completion of the canvass as hereinbefore  provided, one of the precinct election officials shall, in a loud and  distinct voice announce the total votes received by each candidate, and  the total votes cast both for and against each constitutional amendment,  question or other proposition, and such proclamation shall be made  slowly enough so as to enable anyone desiring to do so, to record each  such result as it is announced. Except where a voting machine is  equipped with an automatic recording sheet when the proclamation is  completed, the election official who announced the totals from the  counters of the machine or machines, shall take his place at one of the  return sheets and one of the election officials of the opposite party  who has completed the recording of the returns on the return sheets  shall take his place at the counter compartment of the voting machine  first canvassed, and he shall then proceed to announce each total on  each registering counter in the same manner as it was done for the first  canvass. Before the recheck of the voting machine is begun, the two  precinct election officials who are to recheck the totals on the return  sheets shall exchange return sheets and each election official shall  then, as the canvass proceeds, check each total as it is announced from  the registering counters of the voting machine or machines for the  second time. As each total is announced each precinct election official  who is checking the totals on the return sheets shall repeat in a loud  and distinct voice each total as it is announced. If any errors in the  original canvass are discovered they shall be corrected at once in the  presence of all the precinct election officials and a certificate shall  be prepared and signed by each such election official, setting forth  which errors were discovered and what corrections were made, and such  certificate shall be made in duplicate and one filed with each return  sheet. During the process of rechecking each total on the machines, the  precinct election official or officials, if any, who at the original  canvass acted as watcher or watchers at the registering counters of the  machines, shall in the same manner verify the accuracy of each total as  it is announced from the machine or machines and is repeated by the two  precinct election officials who are rechecking the totals as written on  the return sheets. When this recheck is completed the entire precinct  election board shall take one of the return sheets and fold it in  accordion pleats approximately ten inches wide with the face of the  return sheet out, in such a manner that each pleat can easily be turned  as the final recheck proceeds. The entire precinct election board shall  then begin at the voting machine first canvassed and each such election  official shall, simultaneously with the other such election officials,  and in the presence of each other, examine each registering counter on  the voting machine, and immediately examine the corresponding record for  that counter, as it is written on the return sheet, and shall satisfy  himself that both numbers are the same. Each total on each voting  machine shall be as examined and when such examination has been  completed, the entire precinct election board shall then compare each  total on such return sheet with the corresponding total on the duplicate  return sheet and each precinct election official shall satisfy himself  that all totals are the same on both return sheets. Each precinct  election official shall sign a certificate stating that each step in the  canvass of the voting machines, as provided herein, has been carefully  and faithfully carried out in every detail. If any errors are discovered  during the final recheck of the registering counters and comparison of  the duplicate return sheets, such errors shall be corrected at once, and  each precinct election official shall sign a certificate stating which  errors were found and what corrections were made and such corrections  shall be made in the presence of all the precinct election officials.  The precinct election board shall then canvass the irregular ballot in  substantially the same manner as the law provides for canvassing the  returns for paper ballots, and shall record the results thereof on the  return sheets in the space provided for that purpose. Before leaving the  room and before closing and locking the counting compartment, each  precinct election official shall make and sign the certificate and  written statements and the return sheets of such election as provided by  law. In precincts where the voting machines are equipped with the  automatic recording sheet and two or more machines the total vote cast  for each candidate, question or proposition from each machine shall be  recorded separately on the statement of votes as provided for in Section  18-14, and the grand total of all votes appearing on the recording  sheets shall be recorded on the statement of votes and proclaimed by the  judges in the same manner as is herein provided for proclamation of  votes from the return sheets. All vote by mail ballots and irregular ballots  of each voting machine shall be returned to the proper officer together  with the return sheets and certificates and supplies and such vote by mail   ballots and irregular machine ballots shall be preserved and finally  destroyed as is now provided by law when paper ballots are used. The  written statements or returns so made, after having been properly  signed, shall be distinctly and clearly read in the hearing of all  persons present in the polling place, and ample opportunity shall be  given to compare the results so certified with the counter dials of the  machine. After such comparison and correction, if any is made, the  precinct election officials shall then close the counting compartment  and lock the same. Thereafter the voting machine shall remain locked and  sealed against voting for a period of at least 30 days, after the  results of the election have been declared, unless otherwise ordered by  the circuit court: provided, however, upon application to the circuit  court, the circuit judge may order the said machines opened prior to the  thirty day period herein required to be closed. The circuit court in its  order shall specify the manner in which the count recorded on the  machines shall be taken and preserved: provided, however, when the  machines are equipped with any recording or photographic device on which  votes registered on the mechanical counters will be separately recorded  or photographed, as provided in Section 24-18 hereof, and it is  necessary to use said machines at an election occurring within said 30  days, then after the machines have remained locked for a period of 48  hours they may be prepared for such subsequent election as herein  provided. Whenever it is necessary to reset the machines for another  election prior to the time limit for the filing of election contests, it  shall be the duty of the proper officials to make a photographic record  of the machines involved to be used in case of an election contest,  whereupon the machines may be set back to zero and arranged for the next  election.  (Source: P.A. 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15.)