1. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this subchapter, the two supervisory judges, one from each major political party, shall return the voted ballots, the ballots marked “REJECTED”, “SPOILED”, and “DEFECTIVE”, the tally sheets, tally books and statements of returns, the registration records and other election supplies from each polling place to the election authority as soon as possible, but in no case later than two hours after the signing of the returns at the polling place. The election authority shall keep its office open until all ballots, returns and other election materials have been received. If any voted ballot container is not sealed, the election authority shall make a written statement of the facts which includes the location of the polling place and date of the election printed on the container and the reason the container is not sealed, if known.

2. If the election authority directs the voted ballots to be returned in a ballot box, one supervisory judge shall return the ballot box, one set of tally sheets and one statement of returns. The other supervisory judge shall return the keys to the ballot box, the tally book, the other set of tally sheets and the other statement of returns. If the election authority directs the voted ballots or write-in votes to be returned in sacks or other containers, one supervisory judge shall return the containers of voted ballots, one set of tally sheets and one statement of returns. The other supervisory judge shall return the other set of tally sheets and the other statement of returns.