Except as otherwise specified in §§ 12-19-37 to 12-19-52, inclusive, the powers and duties of an absentee ballot counting board are the same as those of precinct election officials in a regular precinct polling place. An absentee counting board shall:

1. (1) Receive, from the person in charge of the election, all absentee ballots for all precincts in the jurisdiction of the person in charge of the election; and
2. (2) Process and count each absentee ballot received from the person in charge of the election.

Source: SL 1976, ch 108 , § 6; SL 2026, ch 73 , § 3, eff. Mar. 26, 2026.