Section 17-16-30

Returning officers.

The sheriff shall perform the duty of returning officer as in general elections, unless someone else has been named and designated as authorized by law. It shall be his duty or the duty of such returning officer as may be otherwise legally named and designated, as the case may be, to return and deliver to the chairman of the county executive committee of each of the political parties participating in the primary election, at the office of the judge of probate at the county seat, the ballot boxes and returns which have been delivered to him by the officers of said election, and such ballot boxes and returns shall not be allowed to leave his possession and must be returned by him to such chairman not later than 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday following said primary election. Each and all persons failing to perform any of the duties herein required shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Acts 1975, No. 1196, p. 2349, §26.)