New Jersey § 19:52-6

§ 19:52-6.

For voting machines that are exempted by paragraph (2) of subsection b. of R.S.19:48-1 , the district election officers shall, as soon as the count is completed and fully ascertained,

as by this subtitle required, lock the counter compartment and it shall so remain

for a period of 13 days, except it be opened by order of a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the

county. Within such period and upon written request of any defeated candidate, or in the case

where a public question is involved upon petition of any 10 qualified voters of a

county or municipality using machines who voted in the election in question, the judge

shall, at a cost of $2.00 per district to the candidate or petitioners, order the

machines in question opened and the registering counters rechecked against the election

officers' returns. Any candidate or petitioners requesting such recheck, shall deposit with the county

clerk, the amount necessary for all the districts requested. The county clerk, if it appears that an error or errors have occurred as a result

of which the election is changed or the difference between the negative and affirmative

of any public question is altered so as to change the results of the election, shall

upon the warrant of such judge of the Superior Court, pay to such candidate or petitioners

the cost of such recheck. In the event it shall appear after such recheck that the results of the election remain

unchanged, the county clerk shall, upon the warrant of such judge, pay the funds so

deposited into the county treasury. Such recheck shall be made under the supervision of the county election officials

and in co-operation with the parties at interest or their representatives. When irregular ballots of whatever description have been voted, the district election

officers shall return all such ballots in a properly secured package indorsed “irregular

ballots” and return and file such package with the municipal clerk at the same time

the original statement of the results of the election made by them is filed. Such package shall be preserved for 6 months next succeeding such election, and it

shall not be opened or its contents examined during that time except by the order

of a judge of a court lawfully empowered to direct the same to be opened and examined.

At the end of the 6 months, such packages may be opened and the ballots disposed of

at the discretion of the official having charge thereof.