§ 717.12 - Community referendum committee's canvass of ballots.

Immediately after the polls are closed, the community referendum committee shall open the ballot box and canvass the ballots cast. The canvass of the ballots shall be kept open to the public. A ballot shall be considered as a spoiled ballot if it is mutilated or marked in such a way that it is not possible to determine with certainty how the ballot was intended to be counted on a particular question. The envelope containing the challenged ballots shall not be opened. The total number of ballots issued as shown on the register of voters shall be determined and the total number of ballots cast, including the spoiled and challenged ballots, shall be determined. The number of ballots cast in favor of and the number of ballots cast in opposition to the question on which the referendum was held shall be determined. The spoiled ballots and challenged ballots shall not be considered in favor of or against the question. If any member of the community referendum committee should see or learn how any person besides himself voted, whether or not the ballot was challenged, spoiled, or otherwise, he shall not disclose such knowledge to a fellow committeeman or any other person except in an investigation conducted under this part.