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HomeElections CodeDiv. 15Ch. 3Art. 5§ 15279 Ballot Sealing After Counting

§ 15279 Ballot Sealing After Counting

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 15279 Ballot Sealing After Counting

This law says that once all the votes on a ballot are read and counted, nobody can look at the ballots again; they must be put in a strong envelope and sealed, and every precinct board member must sign across the seal.

Key Takeaways

  • •Ballots can’t be looked at after they’re counted.
  • •They must be sealed in a strong envelope right away.
  • •All precinct board members must sign across the seal.

Example

After an election night, the workers finish counting every vote on the paper ballots.

They then place all the ballots in a sturdy envelope, seal it tightly, and each board member signs over the seal so no one can open it later to look at the votes again.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 15279 Ballot Sealing After Counting

The ballots, as soon as all of the names and measures marked on them as voted for are read and tallied, shall not thereafter be examined by any person, but, as soon as all are counted, shall be carefully sealed in a strong envelope. The signatures of each member of the precinct board shall be written across the seal. (Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 1073, Sec. 27. Effective January 1, 1999.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

ballotssealedprecinct boardsignatures

Related Statutes

  • § 15271 Ballot Count Verification Process
  • § 12281 Polling Place Change Notice
  • § 12286 Precinct And Polling Setup
  • § 14213 Poll Opening Announcement
  • § 14221 Voting Booth Access Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 15279.
View Official Source