ORS 545.145: Certificate of vote; stringing of ballots; sealing of returns; delivery to board secretary; recount.

As soon as all the votes are counted, a certificate shall be drawn up on each of the papers containing the tallies, or shall be attached to those papers. The certificate shall state the number of votes each candidate has received and shall designate the office for which the person was a candidate. The number of votes stated on the certificate shall be written in words and figures at full length. Each certificate shall be signed by all the members of the board of election. One of the certificates and the tally paper to which it is attached shall be retained by the presiding officer of the board of election and preserved by the presiding officer for at least six months. During the counting, the ballots shall be strung on a cord or thread by the presiding officer in the order in which they are entered upon the tally lists. The ballots, together with the other certificate and tally papers to which it is attached and a poll list of the voters voting at the election, shall be sealed by the presiding officer in the presence of the other judges, indorsed “Election returns of (naming the precinct) precinct,” and directed to the secretary of the board of directors. The ballots and other materials shall be immediately delivered to the secretary of the board by the presiding officer, or by another safe and responsible carrier designated by the presiding officer. The ballots shall be kept unopened for at least six months, except that the ballots may be opened at any time at the direction of the board of directors for the purpose of canvassing the returns or conducting a recount of the ballots. If any person is of the opinion that the vote of any precinct has not been correctly counted, the person may appear on the day appointed by the board of directors to open and canvass the returns and demand a recount of the votes of the precinct that the person claims have been incorrectly counted. [Formerly 545.032]