(a) Immediately after the vote has been counted in districts in which paper ballots are used, all of the general returns shall be signed by the election officers and clerks, and certified by the overseers, if any. If any election officer, clerk or overseer shall refuse to sign or certify the general returns, he shall write his reasons therefor upon the general return sheets. One of said returns shall be immediately posted for the information of the public outside the polling place, and one shall be entrusted to the judge for delivery to the county board with the package of unused ballots, etc., in an envelope provided for that purpose. The election officers shall then replace all the ballots cast, so counted and canvassed, in the ballot boxes, including those declared void, spoiled, and cancelled, together with one set of tally papers, one numbered list of voters, sealed as aforesaid, and one oath of each election officer, and lock and seal each ballot box so that nothing can be inserted therein until it be opened again; and the judge and minority inspector shall immediately deliver the ballot boxes to the custody of the county board, and the county board shall not compute any returns from any election district until the ballot boxes therefor, as well as the package of unused ballots, etc., aforesaid therefrom, are delivered, as aforesaid. The election officers shall record the number of votes cast for each person on an official specimen ballot, shall sign the same and immediately post it outside the polling place for the information of the public.

(b) The minority inspector shall retain one complete set of tally papers, one numbered list of voters, sealed as aforesaid, and one set of oaths of election officers and carefully preserve the same for a period of at least one year. The remaining tally papers, affidavits of voters and others, including oaths of election officers, and one general return sheet shall be placed in separate envelopes, to be provided for that purpose, and sealed as soon as the count is finally completed. All of such envelopes and one numbered list of voters, previously sealed as aforesaid, shall be entrusted to the judge of election to be immediately delivered to the county board. The judge of elections shall return to the county board by two o'clock A. M. on the day following the election envelopes; supplies, including all uncast provisional ballots; and returns, including all provisional ballots and absentee ballots cast in the election district.

(c) Immediately upon completion of the count and tabulation of the votes cast, the district register and the voting check list shall be locked and sealed, and returned forthwith by the judge of election to the custody of the proper registration commission.