§553. Inspection and preparation of voting machines at polling places; precinct registers and supplemental list

            A. Delivery of the key envelope. The parish custodian of voting machines shall seal the keys, if applicable, to the voting machines at each polling place in an envelope on which shall be written the ward and precinct number of the polling place, the location of the polling place, the numbers of the seal and protective counter of each voting machine at the polling place, and the number of the seal for each precinct register. The parish custodian shall deliver the sealed key envelope to the deputy parish custodian appointed for the polling place, and the deputy parish custodian shall deliver the sealed key envelope to the commissioner-in-charge at the polling place at least thirty minutes before the time for opening the polls on election day.

            B. Inspection of the voting machines. After the commissioners take their oath and before the time for opening the polls, the commissioners, in the presence of the watchers, shall prepare the polling place for voting as follows:

            (1)(a) The commissioners shall compare the voting machine serial numbers on either side of the machines with the numbers on the envelope containing the keys to the voting machines received from the deputy custodian, verify that the numbers on the keys also match the serial numbers of the machines, compare the protective counter numbers on the key envelope with the protective counter numbers on the machines, and compare the numbers on the key envelope with the seal numbers on the machines.

            (b) If the numbers do not agree, the commissioners shall notify the parish custodian, and the commissioners shall not proceed further in the preparation of the voting machine for voting until a representative of the parish custodian has reexamined the voting machine and certified that it is properly arranged. If the numbers agree, the commissioners shall open the envelope, take out the keys, and open the door of the voting machine.

            (c) When the door of the voting machine is opened, the commissioners shall compare the cartridge seal number on the key envelope with the protective seal number for the results cartridge.

            (2)(a) After the voting machines are set up and powered on and the polls are opened, the commissioners shall compare the public and protective counter numbers on the key envelope with the public and protective counter numbers on the machines.

            (b)(i) The commissioners shall cause each machine to produce a zero proof sheet, determine from the zero proof sheet that each counter on that machine is set at zero, sign and certify to the correctness of each zero proof sheet, and immediately post each zero proof sheet within the polling place.

            (ii) If any zero proof sheet is illegible or damaged, the commissioners shall immediately notify the parish custodian who shall take action necessary to make the machine operative.

            (iii) If any zero proof sheet indicates that any candidate or question counter does not register zero, the commissioners shall immediately notify the parish custodian, who shall contact the secretary of state's voting machine technician assigned to the parish to either repair or replace the voting machine. The commissioners shall make a written statement of the irregularity by completing in triplicate a notation of irregularities form to preserve the statement as part of the election returns.

            (3) The commissioners shall check the ballot on the face of each voting machine against the sample ballot supplied by the custodian of voting machines to make certain it is correct. If the ballot is not correct, the commissioners shall notify the parish custodian, and the machine shall not be used until the ballot has been corrected under supervision of the parish custodian or his representatives.

            (4) The commissioners shall set up the audio unit for use of the audio ballot by voters during the election.

            (5) The commissioners shall post the voters' bill of rights and informational posters, if required, the statement of proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, and a sample ballot in a conspicuous place at the principal entrance to the polling place, where they shall remain posted throughout the election day

             (6) The commissioners shall leave the voting machines locked against voting until the polls are formally opened, and thereafter they shall be operated only by the commissioners to allow voters to cast their votes.

             (7) When the polls are opened, the commissioners shall complete in triplicate Certificate No. 1 of the composite certificate designated "Machine Certificates", which shall be prepared and furnished by the secretary of state. This certificate shall state:

            (a) The exact time when the keys to the voting machines were delivered.

            (b) The serial number on each voting machine.

            (c) The number of the seal on each voting machine cartridge.

            (d) The number of the seal on each precinct register.

            (e) The number shown on the public and protective counter on each voting machine.

            (f) That the public counter on each machine numbered zero and whether any visible damage was seen on any voting machine prior to the start of the election.

            C. Disposition of the keys. After closing and locking the back of the voting machine, the commissioners shall place the keys to the voting machines in the envelope provided for that purpose. The commissioners, in the presence of the watchers, shall seal and sign the envelope containing the voting machine keys, and the sealed envelope shall be kept with the other election materials until the termination of voting. The keys to the voting machines shall not be used during the election except by mechanics or experts repairing or adjusting a voting machine under the supervision and control of the parish custodian.

            D. Operation of voting machines. During the election, the voting machines shall only be operated by the commissioners to allow the voters to cast their votes.

            E. Maintenance of precinct registers on election day. (1) The parish custodian of voting machines shall be responsible for delivering to the precinct a list of absentee voters who voted absentee by mail and whose ballots were received after the precinct register was completed for election day voting by the registrar of voters and placed in the voting machine.

            (2) For each name appearing on the list, the commissioners shall write "voted absentee" in the place where the voter usually signs the precinct register and initial the precinct register adjacent thereto.

            (3) The parish custodian of voting machines shall be responsible for delivering to the precinct a supplement to the official list of voters, if necessary.

            (4) Upon receipt of any supplement to the official list of voters, the commissioners shall add the supplement to the precinct register behind the "supplemental precinct register" tab.

            Acts 1976, No. 697, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1978, No. 292, §1, eff. July 6, 1978; Acts 1979, No. 229, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1981, No. 77, §1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1989, No. 179, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1995, No. 300, §1, eff. June 15, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1420, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 2001, No. 1181, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 130, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 1220, §2, eff. July 3, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 627, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2005, No. 220, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 403, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2007; Acts 2018, No. 584, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; Acts 2020, No. 28, §1, eff. June 4, 2020; Acts 2025, No. 386, §1.