§ § 16.1-07-12.1Absentee ballot precinct - Election board appointment - Ballot counting.

1. For any primary, general, or special statewide, district, or county election, the board of
county commissioners shall create a special precinct, known as an absentee ballot
precinct, to count all absentee ballots cast in an election in that county. The election
board of the absentee ballot precinct must be known as the absentee ballot counting
board. The county auditor shall supply the board with all necessary election supplies
as provided in chapter 16.1-06.
2. If the board of county commissioners chooses to establish an absentee ballot precinct
according to this section, the following provisions apply:
a. The county auditor shall appoint the absentee ballot counting board that consists
of one independent representative to act as the inspector and an equal number of
representatives from each political party represented on an election board in the

Page No. 5
 county, as set forth in section 16.1-05-01, to act as judges. Each official of the
board shall take the oath required by section 16.1-05-02 and must be
compensated as provided in section 16.1-05-05.
b. The county auditor shall have the absentee ballots delivered to the inspector of
the absentee ballot counting board with the election supplies, or if received later,
then prior to the closing of the polls.
c. The absentee ballot counting board shall occupy a location designated by the
county auditor which must be open to any individual for the purpose of observing
the counting process.
d. The absentee ballots must be opened and handled as required in section