N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-13-20: Examination of ballot box before opening of polls - Regulations for ballot box while polls are open

Before declaring the polls open, the inspector and the election judges shall inspect the ballot box to assure that it is empty. The ballot box must then be locked. While the polls are open, the ballot box must remain locked except as may be necessary to clear a ballot jam or to move voted ballots to a separate locked ballot box to make room for additional ballots.