2006 Alabama Code - Section 17-24-9 — Testing of equipment.

(a) Not more than 14 days prior to the election the officials charged with the responsibility of conducting the election shall have the electronic vote counting system tested to ascertain that the system will correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all questions. Public notice of the time and place of the test shall be given at least 48 hours prior thereto by written public service announcement, notices to newspapers and radio and television stations in the county and by filing such notice with the Secretary of State. The election officials shall convene, and each shall certify to the accuracy of the test. The test shall be open to the public.

(b) The test shall be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots so punched or marked or otherwise documented as to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each question and shall include for each office one or more ballots which have votes in excess of the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the electronic vote counting system to reject such votes. If any error is detected, the cause therefor shall be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count shall be made before the electronic vote counting system is approved. Such test shall be repeated immediately before the start of the official count of the ballots in the same manner as set forth above. After the completion of the count, the test shall be repeated. The programs and ballots used shall be sealed and retained under the custody of the election officials charged with the responsibility of conducting the election.

(Acts 1983, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 83-200, p. 374, §9, Act 99-663, 2nd Sp. Sess., p. 121, §1.)