12-17B-13. Procedure for tabulating votes--Results as unofficial returns--Certification by board.

The procedure for tabulating the votes by the automatic tabulating equipment shall be under the direction of the person in charge of the election, and shall conform to the specifications and requirements of the automatic tabulating equipment. The results printed by the automatic tabulating equipment shall constitute the immediate unofficial returns. These returns shall be open to the public. The final returns printed by the automatic tabulating equipment shall be presented to the canvassing board for review and certification as the official returns.

Source: SL 1994, ch 110, § 17.



SDLRC - Codified Law 12-17B-13 - Procedure for tabulating votes--Results as unofficial returns--Certification by board.

12-17B-13.1. Operation of automatic tabulating equipment--Return of ballots--Out-stacking of ballots.

If automatic tabulating equipment is located at a polling place for processing ballots while the polls are open, the equipment may not be operated in a manner which returns an over-voted or partially under-voted ballot to the voter. The equipment shall be operated in a manner which returns any ballot that appears to the tabulating equipment to be blank or has any possible mark which the tabulating equipment cannot determine. If the ballot is returned to the voter, the voter may choose to remark the ballot, obtain a new ballot, or resubmit the ballot.

Any central count automatic tabulating equipment shall contain the capability to out-stack ballots and shall be operated in a manner to out-stack any ballot which appears to the tabulating equipment to be blank or has any possible mark which the tabulating equipment cannot determine. If the ballot contains any such mark, the resolution board shall examine the mark and make a determination of any individual vote according to the rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 by the state board of elections. The resolution board shall make a duplicate ballot as prescribed in § 12-17B-14 which shall be counted by the automatic tabulating equipment.

Source: SL 2002, ch 75, § 3; SL 2008, ch 34, § 13.