2006 Alabama Code - Section 17-9-17 — Preparation of voting machines.

It shall be the duty of the judge of probate of each county where voting machines are used in county elections, and of the city clerk in each municipality where voting machines are used in municipal elections, to cause the proper ballot labels to be placed on voting machines; to cause the machines to be placed in proper order for voting; to examine all voting machines in the presence of authorized watchers for any interested persons, before they are sent out to the polling places; to see that all the registering counters are set at zero; to lock, in the presence of authorized watchers, all voting machines so that the counting machinery cannot be operated and to seal each one with a numbered seal, a list of which numbered seals and the number on the protective counters, together with the number of the precinct to which it was sent, in all elections shall be kept as a permanent record open to any citizen, in the records of the probate judge. Such inspection and sealing of voting machines shall begin not later than 9:00 A.M. of the Saturday before any election at which such machines are to be used, and continue until all such machines are sealed. When all machines are locked and sealed, the key to each machine shall be placed in an envelope and sealed, the signature of the judge of probate or of the city clerk, as the case may be, and the signature of two watchers of opposed interest (if such there be) placed across the seal, and on the envelope shall be written the number then on the protective counter and the number on the seal of the voting machine, such envelope to be delivered to the inspector of each election district. It shall be the duty of the sheriff in all elections which the county is charged with the expense of, the duty of the city clerk in a city election, the duty of the president of a school board in school elections, and the duty of the authority holding other elections of any character, to have delivered a voting machine, or machines, together with an instruction model for each machine, showing a portion of the face of such machine in use at such election, to each and every polling place where same is required by law to be used, at least one hour before the time set for the opening of the polls in such voting precinct. After the machine has been delivered, the same authority shall cause such machine to be set up in the proper manner and cause protection to be given so such machine shall be free from molestation and injury. The protective curtains shall be examined to see that they conceal the actions of the voter properly, while such voter is operating the machine. All poll lists and necessary supplies shall be delivered to the inspector at the same time the key or keys to the machine are delivered.

(Acts 1939, No. 292, p. 443; Code 1940, T. 17, §101.)