The process of sorting, validating, processing, and counting absentee ballots must be open to poll watchers for the purpose of observing the process. A poll watcher shall keep a reasonable distance from ballots and identification information to protect the privacy of absentee voters. No record associating an individual voter with a ballot may be created. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SL 1976, ch 108 , § 5; SL 2023, ch 51 , § 16; SL 2026, ch 73 , § 5, eff. Mar. 26, 2026.