Section 7-207. Voting and ballot counting machines; preparation of, party representatives

1. It shall be the duty of the board  of  elections  to
  cause the proper ballot labels to be prepared and placed on those voting
  machines  which  require  ballot  labels,  to cause the machines and any
  removable electronic or computerized devices which operate such machines
  or record the vote thereon to be placed in proper order for  voting,  to
  examine  all  voting  machines  and  all such electronic or computerized
  devices before they are sent out to the different polling places, to see
  that all the registering counters are set at zero, to  cause  a  printed
  record  of  all  the  ballot  label programming data, for each election,
  which is entered into each voting  machine  of  a  type  approved  after
  September  first,  nineteen hundred eighty-six, or which is entered into
  any removable electronic or  computerized  device  which  operates  such
  machine  or  records  the vote thereon, to be produced directly from the
  device on which such ballot label programming data was  entered  and  to
  lock  all  voting  machines  so  that  the counting machinery can not be
  operated and to seal each one with a numbered seal.
    2. (a) Before preparing or programming the voting and ballot  counting
  machines  and  any  removable  electronic  or computerized devices which
  operate such machines or record  the  vote  thereon  for  any  election,
  written notices shall be mailed to the chairman of the county committees
  of  the  major  political  parties,  stating the times when and place or
  places where the machines and devices will be prepared or programmed; at
  which times and place or places, one  representative  of  each  of  such
  political  parties,  certified  by the respective chairmen of the county
  committees of such parties, shall be entitled to be present and see that
  the machines and devices are properly  prepared  and  placed  in  proper
  condition  and  order for use at the election. The party representatives
  shall take the constitutional oath of office, which shall  be  filed  in
  the office of the board of elections.
    (b)  It  shall be the duty of such party representatives to be present
  at the preparation of the voting machines for election and see that  the
  machines are properly prepared and that all registering counters are set
  at  zero  by  examining  such  counters  or  by examining the printed or
  photographic record produced by such voting machine or by examining  the
  printed  record  of  the  ballot label programming data on such machine.
  When the machines have been prepared for election, it shall be the  duty
  of   the   custodian   or   custodians  of  voting  machines  and  party
  representatives, to make a certificate in writing which shall  be  filed
  in the office of the board of elections, stating the number of machines,
  whether  or  not all the machines are set at zero, the number registered
  on the protective counter, and the number on the  seal  with  which  the
  machine is sealed.
    3.  No  custodian or other employee of the board of elections shall in
  any way prevent free access to and examination of  all  voting  machines
  that  are  to  be  used  at  the  election,  by the duly appointed party
  representatives. The board of elections and its employees  shall  afford
  the  party  representatives  every  facility  for the examination of all
  voting machines and devices and the registering counters, the printed or
  photographic record of the counters or the printed record of the  ballot
  label programming data on such machines, if any, the protective counters
  and  the  public  counters  of  each  and every voting machine. All such
  printed or photographic records shall be public records at  the  offices
  of the boards of elections.
    4. It shall be the duty of the board of elections to cause such voting
  machine or machines, prepared as provided pursuant to this section to be
  delivered  at each of the respective polling places in which they are to
  be used, at least one hour before the time set for the  opening  of  the

  polls.  After  the machine has been delivered, it shall be set up in the
  proper manner for use at the election, and it shall be the duty  of  the
  local authorities to provide ample protection against tampering with the
  machines.
    5.  The  party  representatives  shall  be  paid for their services an
  amount that shall be fixed by the board of elections, such amount shall,
  however, be approved by the governing body of the  municipality  wherein
  said machines are used and paid by such municipality.