A. Forty-two days before the election, the county clerk may begin to prepare, inspect, certify and seal electronic voting machines that are to be used in the election, and such preparation, inspection, certification and sealing shall continue until all machines are prepared, inspected, certified and sealed. The process of preparing, inspecting, certifying and sealing electronic voting machines shall be open to observation by the public.

B. The county clerk shall certify to the secretary of state and the county chair of each political party represented on the ballot the type and serial number of each voting machine to be used.