(a) A single representative of each political party which has nominated a ticket and which is represented on the ballot then printed for any general or special election may at the opening of the election be present to aid in the proper qualification of the election officers, but as soon as the election officers shall be qualified or ready to open the election, or the proper hour therefor having arrived, such representatives of such political party shall immediately retire from the voting room or the place where the election is held.
(b) No person, other than the election officers, and the party representatives mentioned in subsection (a) of this section shall enter the room in which the voting is to take place before the opening of the polls.