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HomeElections CodeDiv. 14Ch. 4Art. 2§ 14420 Ballot Handling And Counting

§ 14420 Ballot Handling And Counting

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

§ 14420 Ballot Handling And Counting

This law tells precinct boards how to take out the ballots from the containers, count them, and report any differences between the number of voters on the list and the number of ballots cast.

Key Takeaways

  • •Ballots must be taken out of their secrecy envelopes (or left attached if it’s a write‑in ballot) before or right after polls close.
  • •If more than one kind of ballot card was used, the board must sort the ballots into groups that each have the same set of cards.
  • •The board counts the ballots in each group, certifies the total number of votes, and writes a note if the vote total doesn’t match the voter roster, with all members signing the note.
  • •The county elections official can tell the precinct board to seal the ballot container and fill out reconciliation forms before or at poll close.

Example

After the polls close in a small town, the precinct board opens the ballot box, pulls out each ballot from its envelope, groups the ballots by the type of ballot used, counts how many are in each group, and then writes down the total number of votes. If the list of registered voters shows 150 voters but only 148 ballots are counted, they write a note explaining the two‑ballot difference and all board members sign it.

The board follows the steps the law requires: remove ballots, sort them if there are different ballot cards, count them, certify the total, and note any mismatch.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14420 Ballot Handling And Counting

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), before or as soon as the polls are closed, the precinct board shall remove the voted ballots from the ballot container and take them out of the secrecy envelopes or detach them from the secrecy stubs. Where the envelope or stub is also the write-in ballot, and a write-in vote has been registered thereon, the ballot card shall not be separated from the envelope or stub. If two or more separate ballot cards have been used in the election, the precinct board shall sort them into groups, each of which shall contain the same series of ballot cards. (b) After completing the action described in subdivision (a), the precinct board shall count the number of ballot cards in each group, and certify the number of ballots cast on the voting roster as provided by Section 14107. If there is any discrepancy between the number of voters listed in the roster and the number of ballots voted, this fact shall be noted with an explanation of the difference and signed by all the members of the precinct board. (c) Before or at the close of the polls, the county elections official may direct the precinct board to seal the ballot container and record on forms provided by the elections official the information needed for the reconciliation of ballots required by Section 14405. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 725, Sec. 2. (AB 363) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

precinct boardvoted ballotssecrecy envelopeswrite-in ballotballot cardsvoting rosterdiscrepancy

Related Statutes

  • § 14421 Ballot Handling Procedures
  • § 19360 Voting Machine Pre-Election Check
  • § 11320 Recall Election Ballot Requirements
  • § 11322 Recall Election Ballot Requirements
  • § 11322.5 Recall Election Ballot Instructions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 14420.
View Official Source