Section 2-7-131 - Counting of ballots(a) After the requirements of § 2-7-130 have been met or, where voting machines are not used, after the polling place closes, the judges shall open the ballot box in the polling place in the presence of the watchers and all other persons who are present.(b) The judges shall alternate in drawing ballots from the box and reading aloud within sight of the other judges the names of the persons who have been voted for on each ballot, and the two (2) precinct registrars shall record the votes at the same time for counting on record sheets. The completed record sheets shall be bound in the poll books.(c) Two (2) judges of different political parties shall then compute the votes for each candidate and each position on a question and shall enter the totals for the paper ballots on the duplicate tally sheets in ink. The third judge shall verify the computation and entry of the totals.(d) The paper ballot vote totals shall then be announced.(e)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a)-(d), if paper ballots are used pursuant to § 2-5-206(e)(2), the county election commission may have such paper ballots counted by the central absentee ballot counting board pursuant to § 2-6-302, after the ballot boxes have been transported to the county election commission office.(2) The coordinator of elections may promulgate rules and procedures to implement this subsection (e).(f)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a)-(d), the county election commission may instruct the officer of elections and a judge of a different political party to transport the locked ballot box or boxes containing voted paper ballots to the county election commission office to have such paper ballots counted by the central absentee ballot counting board pursuant to § 2-6-302. The central absentee ballot counting board utilized in accordance with this subsection (f) may be the same members as a counting board that has already been appointed in like manner to the absentee ballot counting board established under § 2-6-302 or it may contain different members that have been appointed in like manner to such a board. The county election commission may only exercise this option if the ballot box or boxes used in the polling place satisfy the requirements of the absentee ballot boxes and have been locked pursuant to § 2-6-311.(2) Where the write-in feature of a direct recording electronic voting machine has been used, the county election commission may instruct the officer of elections and a judge of a different political party to transport the locked ballot box or boxes containing the voting machine printer tape containing the write-in names to the county election commission office to have such paper ballots counted by the central absentee ballot counting board pursuant to § 2-6-302. The central absentee ballot counting board utilized in accordance with this subsection (f) may be the same members as a counting board that has already been appointed in like manner to the absentee ballot counting board established under § 2-6-302 or it may contain different members that have been appointed in like manner to such a board.Acts 1972, ch. 740, § 1; T.C.A., §2-731; Acts 1997 , ch. 287, §1; 2003 , ch. 352, § 6.