                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

OPENING AND CLOSING BALLOT CONTAINERS; OPENING POLLS (§ 24.2-624)

Immediately before the opening of the polls, an officer of election shall open
the ballot containers in the presence of the political party or candidate
representatives authorized to be present for the examination of voting equipment
pursuant to § 24.2-639, if such representatives are available. The officers
shall inspect the containers to ensure that they are empty, lock them, and
deliver the key to one of the officers. One of the officers shall forthwith
proclaim that the polls are open. The containers shall not be opened until the
close of the polls and shall then be opened for the purpose of counting the
ballots therein. The containers shall be kept in view of those voting within the
polling place during the hours of the election.

HISTORY: Code 1950, §§ 24-242, 24-243; 1970, c. 462, § 24.1-124; 1972, c.
620; 1993, c. 641; 2003, c. 1015.