The election officials at the mail ballot counting place may receive and prepare mail ballots delivered and turned over to them by the designated election official for tabulation. Counting of the mail ballots may begin fifteen days prior to the election, and counties with more than ten thousand active electors as of the date of the previous general election must begin no later than four days prior to the election, and continue until counting is completed. The election official in charge of the mail ballot counting place shall take all precautions necessary to ensure the secrecy of the counting procedures, and no information concerning the count shall be released by the election officials or watchers until after 7 p.m. on election day.Amended by 2023 Ch. 399,§ 35, eff. 6/6/2023.L. 99: Entire section added, p. 777, § 59, effective May 20. L. 2009: Entire section amended, (HB 09 -1336), ch. 261, p. 1198, § 6, effective August 5.