(b) In case of the destruction or disappearance of any ballot box on election day, the board of
election inspectors shall immediately report it to the city or municipal treasurer who shall furnish
another box or receptacle as equally adequate as possible. The election registrar shall report the
incident and the delivery of a new ballot box by the fastest means of communication on the same
day to the Commission and to the provincial election supervisor.
SECTION 217. Delivery of the ballot boxes, keys and election supplies and documents. —
Upon the termination of the counting of votes, the board of election inspectors shall place in the
compartment for valid ballots, the envelopes for used ballots hereinbefore referred to, the unused
ballots, the tally board or sheet, a copy of the election returns, and the minutes of its proceedings,
and then shall lock the ballot box with three padlocks and such safety devices as the Commission
may prescribe. Immediately after the box is locked, the three keys of the padlocks shall be placed in
three separate envelopes and shall be sealed and signed by all the members of the board of election
inspectors. The authorized representatives of the Commission shall forthwith take delivery of said
envelopes, signing a receipt therefor, and deliver without delay one envelope to the provincial
treasurer, another to the provincial fiscal and the other to the provincial election supervisor.
The ballot box, all supplies of the board of election inspectors and all pertinent papers and
documents shall immediately be delivered by the board of election inspectors and the watchers to
the city or municipal treasurer who shall keep his office open all night on the day of election if
necessary for this purpose, and shall provide the necessary facilities for said delivery at the expense
of the city or municipality. The book of voters shall be returned to the election registrar who shall
keep it under his custody. The treasurer and the election registrar, as the case may be, shall on the
day after the election require the members of the board of election inspectors who failed to send the
objects referred to herein to deliver the same to him immediately and acknowledge receipt thereof in
detail.
SECTION 219. Preservation of the ballot boxes, their keys and disposition of their contents.
— (a) The provincial election supervisor, the provincial treasurer and the provincial fiscal shall keep
the envelope containing the keys in their possession intact during the period of three months
following the election. Upon the lapse of this period, unless the Commission has ordered otherwise,
the provincial election supervisor and the provincial fiscal shall deliver to the provincial treasurer the
envelope containing the keys under their custody.
(b) The city and municipal treasurer shall keep the ballot boxes under their responsibility for
three months and stored unopened in a secure place, unless the Commission orders
otherwise whenever said ballot boxes are needed in any political exercise which might be
called within the said period, provided these are not involved in any election contest or
official investigation, or the Commission or other competent authority shall demand them
sooner or shall order their preservation for a longer time in connection with any pending
contest or investigation. However, upon showing by any candidate that the boxes will be in
danger of being violated if kept in the possession of such officials, the Commission may
order them kept by any other official whom it may designate. Upon the lapse of said time and
if there should be no order to the contrary, the Commission may authorize the city and
municipal treasurer in the presence of its representative to open the boxes and burn their
contents, except the copy of the minutes of the voting and the election returns deposited
therein which they shall take and keep.
(c) In case of calamity or fortuitous event such as fire, flood, storm, or other similar calamities
which may actually cause damage to the ballot boxes and/or their contents, the Commission
may authorize the opening of said ballot boxes to salvage the ballots and other contents by