1. Every ballot not counted shall be endorsed on the back with the following:

   Rejected because (giving reason therefor).
 2. All rejected ballots shall be enclosed and securely sealed in an envelope on which the precinct election officials shall endorse “Defective ballots”, with a statement signed by the precinct election officials regarding the precinct in which and the date of the election at which they were cast. The envelope shall be returned to the same officer and in the same manner as by law provided for the return and preservation of official ballots voted at such election.