Pennsylvania Statutes § 3011 Preparation of voting machines by county election boards

Statute Text

(a) The county election board of each county shall cause the proper ballot labels to be placed on each voting machine which is to be used in any election district within such county; and shall cause each machine to be placed in proper order for voting; shall examine each machine before it is sent out to a polling place; shall see that each registering counter, except the protective counter, on each machine is set at zero (000); shall lock each machine so that the counting machinery cannot be operated, and shall seal each machine with a numbered seal. The county election board or their duly authorized agent shall adjust each machine to be used at a primary election, so that the election officers may lock it on primary election day, in such a way that each voter can vote only for the candidates for nonpartisan nomination, if any, and for the candidates seeking nomination by the political party in which he is enrolled, if he is enrolled as a member of a political party, and so that no voter can vote for the candidates seeking nomination by any political party in which he is not enrolled.

(b) The county election board shall appoint one custodian of voting machines, and such deputy custodians as may be necessary, whose duty it shall be to prepare the machines to be used in the county at the elections to be held therein. Each custodian and deputy custodian shall receive from the county, for each day he is actually employed under the provisions of this act, such compensation as shall be fixed by the county election board, but not less than five dollars ($5.00) per day. Such custodian shall, under the direction of the county election board, have charge of and represent the county election board during the preparation of the voting machines as required by this act, and he and the deputy custodians, whose duty it shall be to assist him in the discharge of his duties, shall serve at the pleasure of the county election board. Each custodian shall take the constitutional oath of office, which shall be filed with the county election board.

(c) On or before the fortieth day preceding an election, the county election board shall mail to the chairman of the county committee of each political party, which shall by entitled under existing laws to participate in primary elections within the county, and to the chairman or presiding officer of any organization of citizens within the county having as its purpose or among its purposes the investigation or prosecution of election frauds, which has registered its name and address, and the names of its principal officers with the county election board at least fifty (50) days before such election, a written notice stating the times when and the place or places where preparation of the machines for use in the several election districts in the county will be started. One representative of each of such political parties, certified by the respective chairmen of the county committees of such parties, and one representative of each such organization of citizens, certified by the respective chairmen or presiding officers of such organizations, shall be entitled to be present, during the preparation of the machines, and to see that the machines are properly prepared and are placed in proper condition and order for use: Provided, however, That such representatives shall not interfere with preparation of the machines, and the county board may make such reasonable rules and regulations governing the conduct of such representatives.

(d) The custodian and deputy custodians of voting machines shall make a certificate, in writing, which each shall sign, and request each representative of a party or a citizens organization as aforesaid, present at the preparation of the machine to attest, and which shall be filed with the county election board, stating--

(1) the identifying number or other designation of the voting machine;

(2) that each registering counter of the machine was set at zero (000);

(3) the number registered on the protective counter or other device of the machine; and

(4) the number on the seal with which the machine is sealed.

(e) No member of the county election board, nor custodian, nor other employe of the county election board, shall, in any way, prevent free access to and examination of all voting machines, which are to be used at the election, by any of the duly appointed representatives aforesaid; and the county election board and their employes shall afford to each such representative every facility for the examination of all registering counters, protective counters, and public counters of each and every voting machine.

(f) The county election board shall furnish, at the expense of the county, all ballot labels, forms of certificates, returns, and other papers and supplies, required under the provisions of this act, all of which shall be in the form, and according to the specifications, prescribed, from time to time, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

History

1937, June 3, P.L. 1333, art. XI, § 1111.

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