Sealing and Reviewing Counted Ballots

As soon as the valid votes marked on the ballots are tabulated and the Commission is satisfied as to the accuracy of the tabulation, such ballots shall not thereafter be examined by any person, except upon a recount or audit as provided in this Chapter. The counted ballots shall be carefully sealed in a sturdy envelope with the name of the precinct thereon, and a majority of the members of the Commission shall certify that all counted ballots have been secured consistent with this Section. The Commission may not, earlier than thirty

(30)days from the date that the election results are certified, and provided that no election contest is pending resolution, unseal the ballot envelope to extract statistical data of which data will be made available to the general public. Upon the completion of the extraction, the ballot envelope shall be resealed and the Commission’s seal and the date shall be affixed across the envelope’s sealed portion.