A. The clerk shall have ballots printed for each election. The clerk may contract for the preparation and printing of ballots without competitive bidding.

B. Early, absentee by mail, and sample ballots shall be in the clerk’s possession at least 16 calendar days before a regular or special election and nine calendar days before a run-off election. All other ballots shall be in the clerk’s possession at least seven calendar days before the election.

C. The clerk shall arrange for delivery of ballots to each election board prior to or on the date of the election before the opening of the polls. The ballots shall be delivered in containers, marked with the number of ballots enclosed. An election official shall sign and date a receipt for the ballots. The receipt shall include the number of ballots issued to the precinct and shall be held by the clerk.

D. No ballots shall be taken from the precinct before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, unless the clerk, for good cause, directs that the ballots be removed. A record shall be kept by the election officials of the ballots removed from a precinct.

E. The clerk shall have sample ballots printed and available to voters at the times described in subsection (B) of this section. The sample ballots shall be identical in form to the official ballots, printed on colored paper, and marked “sample.” (Ord. 16-15 § 7, 2016; Ord. 12-20 § 16, 2012; Ord. 01-16(SUB) § 4, 2001; prior code § 18.20.050)