10 ILCS 5/24B-10.1
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 10 - ELECTIONS|10 ILCS 5/ - Election Code.|Article 24B - Electronic, Mechanical Or Electric Voting Systems With Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology Capability

Sec. 24B-10.1. In-Precinct Counting Equipment; Procedures for Counting and  Tallying Ballots.  In an election  jurisdiction where Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology  counting equipment is used, the following procedures for  counting and tallying the ballots shall apply:Before the opening of the polls, and before the ballots are  entered into the automatic tabulating equipment, the judges of  election shall be sure that the totals are all zeros in the  counting column.  Ballots may then be counted by entering or scanning  each ballot into the automatic tabulating equipment.  Throughout the election day and before the closing of the polls, no person  may check any vote totals for any candidate or proposition on the automatic  tabulating equipment. Such automatic tabulating equipment shall be programmed  so that no person may reset the equipment for refeeding of ballots unless  provided a code from an authorized representative of the election  authority.  At the option of the election authority, the ballots may be fed into the  Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology  equipment by the voters under the direct  supervision of the judges of elections.Immediately after the closing of the polls, the precinct judges of election shall open the ballot box  and count the number of ballots to determine if the  number agrees with the number of voters voting as shown on the  Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology equipment and by the  applications for ballot or, if the same do not agree, the judges  of election shall make the ballots agree with the applications  for ballot in the manner provided by Section 17-18 of this Code.  The judges of election shall then examine all ballots which are  in the ballot box to determine whether the ballots contain the  initials of a precinct judge of election.  If any ballot is not  initialed, it shall be marked on the back "Defective", initialed  as to such label by all judges immediately under the word  "Defective" and not counted.  The judges of election shall place  an initialed blank official ballot in the place of the defective  ballot, so that the count of the ballots to be counted  on the automatic tabulating equipment will be the same, and each  "Defective Ballot" and "Replacement" ballot shall contain the  same serial number which shall be placed thereon by the judges of  election, beginning with number 1 and continuing consecutively  for the ballots of that kind in that precinct.  The original  "Defective" ballot shall be placed in the "Defective Ballot  Envelope" provided for that purpose.If the judges of election have removed a ballot pursuant to Section 17-18,  have labeled "Defective" a ballot which is not initialed, or have otherwise  determined under this Code to not count a ballot originally deposited into a  ballot box, the judges of election shall be sure that the totals on the  automatic tabulating equipment are reset to all zeros in the counting column.  Thereafter the judges of election shall enter or otherwise scan each ballot  to be counted in the  automatic tabulating equipment.  Resetting the automatic tabulating equipment  to all zeros and re-entering of ballots to be counted may occur at the precinct  polling place, the office of the election authority, or any receiving station  designated by the election authority.  The election authority shall designate  the place for resetting and re-entering or re-scanning.When a Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology  electronic voting system is used which uses a paper ballot,  the judges of election shall examine the ballot for write-in  votes.  When the voter has cast a write-in vote, the judges of  election shall compare the write-in vote with the votes on the  ballot to determine whether the write-in results in an overvote  for any office, unless the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan  Technology equipment has already done so.  In case of an overvote  for any office, the judges of election, consisting in each case  of at least one judge of election of each of the 2 major  political parties, shall make a true duplicate ballot of all  votes on such ballot except for the office which is  overvoted, by using the ballot of the precinct and one of the  marking devices, or equivalent ballot, of the precinct so as to transfer  all votes  of  the voter, except for the office overvoted, to a duplicate  ballot.  The original ballot upon which there is an overvote  shall be clearly labeled "Overvoted Ballot", and each such  "Overvoted Ballot" as well as its "Replacement" shall contain the  same serial number which shall be placed thereon by the judges of  election, beginning with number 1 and continuing consecutively  for the ballots of that kind in that precinct.  The "Overvoted  Ballot" shall be placed in an envelope provided for that purpose  labeled "Duplicate Ballot" envelope, and the judges of election  shall initial the "Replacement" ballots and shall place them with  the other ballots to be counted on the automatic tabulating  equipment.If any ballot is damaged or defective, or if any ballot  contains a Voting Defect, so that it cannot properly be counted  by the automatic tabulating equipment, the voter or the judges of  election, consisting in each case of at least one judge of  election of each of the 2 major political parties, shall make a  true duplicate ballot of all votes on such ballot by using the  ballot of the precinct and one of the marking devices of the  precinct, or equivalent.  If a damaged ballot, the original ballot shall be  clearly labeled "Damaged Ballot" and the ballot so produced shall  be clearly labeled "Damaged Ballot" and the ballot  so produced shall be clearly labeled "Duplicate Damaged Ballot", and each  shall contain the same serial number which shall be placed  by the judges of election, beginning with number 1 and  continuing consecutively for the ballots of that kind in the  precinct.  The judges of election shall initial the "Duplicate  Damaged Ballot" ballot and shall enter or otherwise scan the duplicate  damaged  ballot into the automatic tabulating equipment.  The "Damaged  Ballots" shall be placed in the "Duplicated Ballots" envelope;  after all ballots have been successfully read, the judges of  election shall check to make certain that the Precinct Tabulation  Optical Scan Technology equipment readout agrees with the number  of voters making application for ballot in that precinct.  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 copy  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.The judges of election shall count all unused ballots and  enter the number on the "Statement of Ballots".  All "Spoiled",  "Defective" and "Duplicated" ballots shall be counted and the  number entered on the "Statement of Ballots".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 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 which shall be wrapped around the container lengthwise  and crosswise, at least twice each way, in a manner that the  ballots cannot be removed from the container without breaking  the seal and filament tape and disturbing any signatures affixed  by the election judges to the container, or which other approved  sealing devices are affixed in a manner approved by the election  authority.  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 from all precincts with in-precinct  counting equipment within the jurisdiction of the election  authority have been returned to the election authority.  Ballots  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  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 as provided shall, in the  event the ballots cannot be found when needed, on proper  request, produce the receipt which they are to take as above  provided.  The precinct judges of election shall also deliver  the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology equipment to the  election authority.  (Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 94-1000, eff. 7-3-06; 95-699, eff. 11-9-07.)