Section 17-16-33

Disposition of ballot box after canvass of result; when ballot box may be opened by chairman of county executive committee.

After the result has been canvassed and declared by the county executive committee, the chairman of such county committee shall securely keep the ballot box, until it is known that there will be no contest but, in any event, not less than 30 days; and, if in that time no contest has been properly instituted, such chairman shall then destroy the contents of such box without examining the same. Such ballot box shall not be opened except in one or the other of the following events:

(1) In the event of a contest, where the opening of the box has been authorized under authority of the chairman of the executive committee trying the contest; and

(2) Where a box has been returned but no certificate of the result of the election has been sent the chairman outside of the box, the box may be opened by the chairman of the county committee, under the direction and in the presence of the committee, and the committee, for canvassing purposes, may obtain the result at any particular district, ward or precinct from the contents of the box, using the certificate of result contained therein, if any, or otherwise, so far as necessary in order to obtain it from the box; after which the papers shall be returned into the box, and the box shall be resealed by the chairman in the presence of the committee.

(Acts 1975, No. 1196, p. 2349, §29.)