24. On each day the petition is available for signing, immediately before the time the petition is to be made available, the petition clerk must show the ballot box empty to such persons, if any, as are present in the petition signing place, so that they may see that it is empty, and must then lock it up (if it has a lock) and place the petition clerk’s seal on it in such a manner as to prevent its being opened without breaking the seal, and must place it in view of the petition clerk for the receipt of signed signing sheets, and keep it so locked (if it has a lock) and sealed.