TrustVoting Atlas

(a) Prior to any election in which an
electronic voting system is to be used, the county board of
elections shall furnish to each election district, at the
expense of the county, the elements of such voting system,
including voting devices, automatic tabulating equipment, ballot
boxes, ballot labels, ballots, ballot envelopes, forms of
certificates, returns and other records and supplies, as are
necessary for the proper operation of the voting system at the
election district level or as are required under the provisions
of this act, all of which shall be in the form and according

to the specifications prescribed from time to time by the
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
   (b) Unless the voting device itself enables the voter to
register his vote in secret, the county board of elections shall
provide voting booths for each election district, which shall
be of a size and design which shall enable the voter to register
his vote in secret. The county board shall determine the number
of voting devices and voting booths to be provided in each such
district in order to satisfy the minimum capacity standards
prescribed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
   (b.1) The county board of elections shall furnish supplies
to each election district which shall enable the voter to insert
the ballot into the district automatic tabulating equipment in
secret. The supplies shall be in the form and according to the
specifications prescribed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
((b.1) added Nov. 27, 2019, P.L.673, No.94)
   (c) The county board of elections shall appoint a custodian
of the electronic voting system and such deputy custodians as
may be necessary, and it shall be the duty of such custodians
to prepare the voting system and all of its components for use
in any election in which such system is employed. Each custodian
and deputy custodian shall receive from the county, for each
day he is actually employed under the provisions of this act,
such compensation as shall be fixed by the county board of
elections. Such custodian shall, under the direction of the
county board of elections, have charge of and represent the
county election board during the preparation of the electronic
voting system as required by this act, and he and the deputy
custodians, whose duty it shall be to assist him in the
discharge of his duties, shall serve at the pleasure of the
county board of elections. Each custodian shall take the
constitutional oath of office, which shall be filed with the
county board of elections.
   (d) On or before the fortieth day preceding any election,
the county board of elections shall mail to the chairman of the
county committee of each political party which shall be entitled
under existing laws to participate in primary elections within
the county, and to the chairman or presiding officer of any
organization of citizens within the county which has as its
purpose or among its purposes the investigation or prosecution
of election frauds and which has registered its name and address
and the names of its principal officers with the county board
of elections at least fifty days before the election, a written
notice stating the times when and the place or places where
preparation of the system and its components for use in the
several election districts in the county or municipality will
be started. One representative of each such political party,
certified by the respective chairman of the county committee
of such party, and one representative of each such organization
of citizens, certified by the respective chairman or presiding
officer of such organization shall be entitled to be present
during the preparation of the voting system and its components
and to see that they are properly prepared and are in proper
condition and order for use. Such representatives shall not
interfere with the preparation of the system and its components,
and the county board may make reasonable rules and regulations
governing the conduct of such representatives.
   (e) Prior to the delivery of any automatic tabulating
equipment to any election district the county board of elections
shall examine or cause to have examined such equipment and shall
make a certificate stating:

   (1) the identifying number and election district designation
of the equipment;
   (2) that the equipment is suitable for use in the particular
election district designated;
   (3) that the equipment has been tested to ascertain that
it will accurately compute the votes cast for all offices and
all questions;
   (4) that the offices and questions on the official ballot
correspond in all respects with the ballot labels assigned to
such particular election district;
   (5) that the public counter and the counters for each
candidate position and each question are all set at zero and
that element that generates a printed record of the results of
the election is functioning correctly; and
   (6) the number on the seal with which the equipment is
sealed.
   (f) At least one hour before the time set for the opening
of the polls at each election, the county board of elections
shall deliver to each election district any district components
of the electronic voting system and any supplies necessary to
prepare the automatic tabulating equipment for operation in the
district, and they shall position such automatic tabulating
equipment for proper use in voting. Any tabulating equipment
so placed shall remain locked and sealed until its examination
and preparation immediately preceding its use as prescribed by
this act.
   (g) The members of the district election board shall arrive
at the polling place at least one-half hour before the opening
of the polls. Prior to the commencement of the election, the
district election board shall inspect the district components
of the electronic voting system to see that they are in proper
working order, and they shall check all ballots, supplies,
records and forms and shall post the sample ballots, the cards
of instruction and the notices of penalties. If the voting
system provides for the initial computation and tabulation of
votes at the district level during voting hours, the district
election board shall also break the seal on the automatic
tabulating equipment and insure that the equipment is properly
prepared for the particular election district designated, and
the district board shall then determine that the counters for
each candidate position and for each question and the public
counter are all set to zero. If the system provides for
tabulation of ballots after the polls are closed, such test
shall be conducted immediately prior to its actual use. If any
such counter is not set to zero, the district election board
shall immediately notify the county board of elections which
shall forthwith cause one of its representatives to ascertain
and correct any error. Thereupon, a zero print-out sheet or an
appropriate certificate by the district election board
reflecting its examination shall be posted on the wall of the
polling place by the district election board and such sheet or
certificate shall remain posted until the polls are closed. At
the close of the polls, the district election board shall
deliver such sheet or certificate together with the election
returns to the county board of elections.
   (1110-A added July 11, 1980, P.L.600, No.128)