(1) Except as provided in subsection
(2) of this section, on the day fixed for opening the ballots pursuant to section 32-1113, the election commissioner or county clerk and the county canvassing board which officiated in making the official county canvass of the election returns shall proceed to open such ballots in the presence of the petitioner and the person whose election is contested or their attorneys. While the ballots are open and being examined, the election commissioner or county clerk shall exclude all other persons from the counting room. All persons witnessing the counting of ballots shall be placed under oath requiring them not to disclose any fact discovered from such ballots except as stated in the certificate of the election commissioner or county clerk.
(2) In an election contest for a seat in the Legislature, the Legislature may establish rules and procedures for the recount of ballots. Such rules and procedures may provide for delivery to the Legislature or a committee of the Legislature designated by the Legislature before which a contested election is pending, by the election commissioner or county clerk, of the ballots or notarized copies of the ballots which were cast at the election in contest.