2010 Tennessee Code
Title 2 - Elections
Chapter 7 - Procedure at the Polling Place
2-7-130 - Locking of machine Canvass and proclamation of votes on voting machines.

2-7-130. Locking of machine Canvass and proclamation of votes on voting machines.

(a)  (1)  After the polls have closed and after disposal of unused paper ballots, the judges shall then lock and seal the voting machines against voting. The judges shall sign a certificate on the tally sheets, stating that:

          (A)  Each machine has been locked against voting and sealed;

          (B)  The number of voters as shown on the public counters;

          (C)  The numbers on the seals; and

          (D)  The numbers registered on the protective counters.

     (2)  The judges shall then open the counter compartment in the presence of the watchers and all other persons who are present, giving full view of all the counter numbers. One (1) of the judges, under the scrutiny of a judge of a different political party, in the order of the offices as their titles are arranged on the machine, shall read aloud in distinct tones the designating number and letter, if any, on each counter for each candidate's name and the result as shown by the counter numbers. The judge shall in the same manner announce the vote on each question. The counters shall not in the case of presidential electors be read consecutively along the party row or column, but shall always be read along the office columns or rows, completing the canvass for each office. The total shown beside the words “Electors for (giving the name) candidate for President and for (giving the name) candidate for Vice President” shall operate as a vote for all the candidates for presidential electors for those candidates for president and vice president.

     (3)  The vote as registered shall be entered on the duplicate tally sheets in ink by the precinct registrars in the same order on the space which has the same designating number and letter, if any. The minority party precinct registrar shall then read aloud the figures from the tally sheet filled in by the majority party precinct registrar for verification by the minority party judge.

     (4)  After proclamation of the vote on the voting machines, ample opportunity shall be given to any person present to compare the results so announced with the counter dials of the machine.

     (5)  The judges shall make corrections.

(b)  When voting machines are employed such as those of Shoup manufacture, which achieve the effect of seals by the utilization of master keys, sealing the machines upon the close of polls shall be unnecessary.

[Acts 1972, ch. 740, § 1; 1976, ch. 416, § 1; T.C.A., § 2-730.]