(a) On the direction of the presiding judge, the early voting ballot board, in accordance with Section 85.032(b), shall open the containers for the early voting ballots that are to be counted by the board, remove the contents from each container, and remove any ballots enclosed in ballot envelopes from their envelopes.
(b) The board shall count the ballots and prepare the returns in accordance with the procedure applicable to paper ballots cast at a precinct polling place.
(c) Ballots voted by mail shall be tabulated and stored separately from the ballots voted by personal appearance and shall be separately reported on the returns.