(1) At the hour for closing the polls, the election board shall declare the polls of the election closed and shall not permit any further voting. However, electors who are, at the hour of closing, within the polling room or awaiting their turn to vote shall be considered as having begun the act of voting and shall be permitted to cast their votes.
(2) At any time prior to the closing of the polls provision may be made for the delivery of voted ballots to the county clerk or the clerk of a city, district or other political subdivision for counting. If such procedure is adopted, the result of this early count shall not be released to the public until after 8:00 p.m. of election day.