2006 Alabama Code - Section 17-9-33 — Canvass of vote and proclamation of result.

When the time arrives for closing the polls, all qualified voters, who are then waiting within the voting room to vote, shall be permitted by the election officers to do so. As soon as the last voter has voted and the poll closed, the election officials shall immediately lock the machines against voting. They shall then sign a certificate stating that the machine was locked and sealed, giving the exact time; such certificate also stating the number of voters shown on the public counters, which shall be the total number of votes cast on such machine in that precinct; the number on the seal; and the number registered on the protective counter. They shall then open the counting compartment in the presence of the watchers and of at least one representative of any newspaper or press association which cares to be represented, giving full view of all the counter numbers. The inspector shall, under the scrutiny of the watchers, in the order of the officers, as their titles are arranged on the machines, read and announce in distinct tones the designating number and letter on each counter for each candidate's name, if the construction of the voting machine is such as to require a designating number and letter; the result as shown by the counter numbers; and shall then read the votes recorded for each office on the "irregular ballots"; and shall also read and the clerk shall tally the totals of all challenged ballots cast under the provisions of this chapter. He shall also in the same manner announce the result on each constitutional amendment, bond proposition or any other question voted on. The vote as registered shall be entered on the statements of canvass in ink by the clerks, such entries to be made in the same order on the space which has the same designating number and letter, if the construction of the voting machine is such as to require a designating number and letter, after which the figures shall again be verified by being called off in the same manner from the counters of the machines. The returns of the canvass as required by law shall then be filled out, verified and shall show the number of votes cast for each candidate, the number of votes cast for and against any proposition submitted and shall be signed by the election officials. The counter compartments of the voting machine shall remain open throughout the time of the making of all statements and certificates, and the official returns, and until such have been fully verified; and during such time the watchers of any candidate or any representative of any newspaper shall be admitted. The proclamation of the result of the votes cast shall be deliberately announced in a distinct voice by the inspector, who shall read the names of each candidate, with the designating number and letter, if the construction of the voting machine is such as to require a designating number and letter; of his counter and the vote registered on such counter; also the vote cast for and against each proposition submitted. During such proclamation ample opportunity shall be given to any person lawfully entitled to be in the polls to compare the results announced with the counter dials of the machine and any necessary corrections shall then and there be made, after which the doors of the voting machine shall be locked and sealed with the seal provided, so sealing the operating lever or electrical control, if an electrically operated machine, so that the voting and counting mechanism will be prevented from operation. Irregular and challenged ballots, properly sealed and signed, shall be filed with the original statement of canvass, which canvass shall be delivered in the same manner and to the same authorities as now provided by law. The inspector shall deliver to the chairman of the county executive committee in all primary elections, the city clerk in all municipal elections, and the county commission in all other elections, the keys of the machine, enclosed in a sealed envelope, across the seal of which shall be written his own name, together with that of the other election officials, and on this envelope shall be recorded the date of the election, the number of the voting district, the number of the seal with which the machine was sealed, the number of the public counter and the number on the protective counter.

(Acts 1939, No. 292, p. 443; Code 1940, T. 17, §112.)