Why is a record kept of sealed materials during counting?

Correct answer: To track the movement of materials and verify their integrity

Direct answer: A is correct. A record of sealed ballot boxes, electronic voting units, or election documents helps establish where the material came from, who received it, where it was stored, and when it was transferred. This traceable chain of custody makes it possible to check whether seals and materials remained secure and whether any unexplained handling occurred. The record therefore supports integrity, accountability, and confidence in counting. B is wrong because staff attendance is a separate personnel record; it does not explain the custody of sealed election material. C is wrong because sealed election material must be secured, not used to send campaign material. D is wrong because custody records must protect, not end, the secrecy of individual votes. The record does not reveal how a particular voter voted. Memory cue: sealed-material records answer “where was it, who handled it, and was it secure?”