2014 Vermont Statutes
Title 17 - Elections
Chapter 51 - CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS
Subchapter 9: RECOUNTS AND CONTEST OF ELECTIONS
§ 2602c Preparation for recount

§ 2602c. Preparation for recount

(a) Before the recount begins, the county clerk shall explain the recount procedures which are to be followed and shall answer questions relating to such procedures. The county clerk shall use volunteer town clerks to operate and instruct on the use of vote tabulators.

(b) Each recount team shall recount the contents of one container before opening another container at its table, shall recount the contents of all the containers relating to one polling place before moving to those of another polling place, and shall complete the recount for one town before moving to material relating to another town.

(c) For each polling place, the number of containers shall be counted and recorded on the master list.

(d) Before opening, each container shall be inspected, and if no tag is present, replacement manila tags shall be affixed, specifying date of election and name of town and polling place. Likewise, each seal shall be examined to see if it is intact, and the county clerk shall attach to any bag with a defective seal a tag stating that the seal was defective and containing the information which was contained on the defective seal.

(e) Uncounted containers shall be kept in one part of the room and moved to the other side as they are counted; each team shall have a separate table and the county clerk shall have a separate table, all of which tables shall be spaced apart.

(f) If there is more than one container from a polling place, the county clerk shall open first the container which is identified as containing the checklist. Upon opening the first container in the presence of the clerk observer team, the county clerk shall empty the contents onto the clerk's table. The county clerk shall ensure that teams are not given unused ballots, early or absentee ballots which arrived after the close of polls, or ballots spoiled by voters and turned in by voters requesting fresh ballots. (Added 1985, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; amended 2001, No. 6, § 12(a), eff. April 10, 2001; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 42.)