Missouri Revised Statutes Title IX. Suffrage and Elections § 115.449. Ballots, when and how counted

1. As soon as the polls close in each polling place using paper ballots, the election judges shall begin to count the votes. If earlier counting is begun pursuant to section 115.451, the election judges shall complete the count in the manner provided by this section. Once begun, no count shall be adjourned or postponed until all proper votes have been counted.

2. One counting judge, closely observed by the other counting judge, shall take the ballots out of the ballot box one at a time and, holding each ballot in such a way that the other counting judge may read it, shall read the name of each candidate properly voted for and the office sought by each. As each vote is called out, the recording judges shall each record the vote on a tally sheet. The votes for and against all questions shall likewise be read and recorded. If more than one political subdivision or special district is holding an election on the same day at the same polling place and using separate ballots, the counting judges may separate the ballots of each political subdivision and special district and first read one set, then the next and so on until all proper votes have been counted.

3. After the recording of all proper votes, the recording judges shall compare their tallies. When the recording judges agree on the count, they shall sign both of the tally sheets, and one of the recording judges shall announce in a loud voice the total number of votes for each candidate and for and against each question.

4. After the announcement of the vote, the election judges shall record the vote totals in the appropriate places on each statement of returns. If any tally sheet or statement of returns contains no heading for any question, the election judges shall write the necessary headings on the tally sheet or statement of returns.