State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Virginia > Title-24-2 > Chapter-7 > 24-2-709-1§ 24.2-709.1. Alternative procedures for counting absentee ballots.
The electoral board may authorize a general registrar at his option to takeone or more of the following measures as needed to expedite counting absenteeballots capable of being read with optical scan counting devices and returnedby mail before election day: (i) examine the ballot envelopes to verifycompletion of the required voter affirmation; (ii) mark the pollbook, or theabsentee voter applicant list if the pollbook is not available, that thevoter has voted; or (iii) open the sealed ballot envelopes and insert theballots in the optical scan counting equipment without initiating any ballotcount totals. If the board authorizes optical scanning as provided in clause(iii), at least two officers of election, one representing each politicalparty, shall be present during all hours when a general registrar uses theexpedited procedures authorized in this section. No person present whilesealed ballot envelopes are opened and ballots are inserted into countingequipment pursuant to clause (iii) shall disclose any information concerningthe ballots.
(2007, cc. 171, 281.)
