Illinois Statutes Chapter 10. Elections § 5/24B-8. Preparation for Use; Comparison of Ballots; Operational Checks of Automatic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology Tabulating Equipment; Pollwatchers

§ 24B-8. Preparation for Use; Comparison of Ballots; Operational Checks of Automatic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology Tabulating Equipment; Pollwatchers. The county clerk or board of election commissioners shall cause the approved marking devices to be delivered to the polling places. Before the opening of the polls the judges of election shall compare the ballots or displays on the marking device used with the specimen ballots furnished and see that the names, numbers and letters thereon agree and shall certify thereto on forms provided by the county clerk or board of election commissioners.

In addition, in those polling places where in-precinct Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology counting equipment is utilized, the judges of election shall make an operational check of the automatic Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology tabulating equipment before the opening of the polls. The judges of election shall ensure that the totals are all zeroes in the count column on the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology unit.

Pollwatchers as provided by law shall be permitted to closely observe the judges in these procedures and to periodically inspect the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology equipment when not in use by the voters.