(a) Upon the close of the polls, the moderator, in the presence of the other election officials, shall immediately lock the voting tabulator against voting and immediately cause the vote totals for all candidates and questions to be produced. The moderator shall, in the order of the offices as their titles are arranged on the ballot, read and announce in distinct tones the result as shown, giving the number indicated and indicating the candidate to whom such total belongs, and shall read the votes recorded for each office on the ballot. The moderator shall also, in the same manner, announce the vote on each constitutional amendment, proposition or other question voted on. The vote so announced by the moderator shall be taken down by each checker and recorded on the tally sheets. Each checker shall record the number of votes received for each candidate on the ballot and also the number received by each person for whom write-in ballots were cast. The moderator shall make a preliminary list from the vote totals produced by the tabulators and shall prepare such preliminary list for transmission to the Secretary of the State pursuant to § 9-314. After such preliminary list has been transmitted to the Secretary of the State, the canvass may be temporarily interrupted, during which time the moderator shall (1) return the keys for all tabulators to the registrars of voters, (2) seal the tabulators against voting or being tampered with, (3) prepare and seal individual envelopes for all (A) write-in ballots, (B) absentee ballots, (C) moderators’ returns, and (D) other notes, worksheets or written materials used at the election, and (4) store all such tabulators and envelopes in a secure place or places directed by the registrars of voters. At the end of such temporary interruption, the moderator shall receive such keys from the registrars and shall take possession of and break the seal on all such tabulators and envelopes for the purpose of completing the canvass. The result totals shall remain in full public view until the statement of canvass and all other reports have been fully completed and signed by the moderator, checkers and registrars, or assistant registrars, as the case may be. Any other remaining result of the votes cast shall be publicly announced by the moderator not later than forty-eight hours after the close of the polls. Such public announcement shall consist of reading both the name of each candidate, with the designating number and letter on the ballot and the absentee vote as furnished to the moderator by the absentee ballot counters, and also the vote cast for and against each question submitted. While such announcement is being made, ample opportunity shall be given to any person lawfully present to compare the results so announced with the result totals provided by the tabulator and any necessary corrections shall then and there be made by the moderator, checkers and registrars or assistant registrars, after which the compartments of the voting tabulator shall be closed and locked. In canvassing, recording and announcing the result, the election officials shall be guided by any instructions furnished by the Secretary of the State.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, for the state election in 2020, and any election held on or after June 23, 2021, but prior to November 3, 2021, after the preliminary list has been transmitted to the Secretary of the State, any other remaining result of the votes cast required under said subsection to be publicly announced by the moderator shall be so announced not later than ninety-six hours after the close of the polls at such election.