Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 721 - Secretary of State
Division II - Elections
Chapter 22 - Voting Systems and Electronic Poll Books
Rule 721-22.101 - Definitions

The definitions established by this rule shall apply whenever the terms defined appear in relation to an optical scan system used with the type of ballot defined in this rule.

"Ballot" means the official document that includes all of the offices or public measures to be voted upon at a single election, whether they appear on one or more optical scan ballots.

"Optical scan voting system " means a system employing optical scan ballots under which votes are cast by voters by marking the optical scan ballots with a ballot marking device and thereafter counted by use of automatic tabulating equipment.

"Overvote" means to vote for more than the permitted number of choices for any office or question on a ballot.

"Secrecy envelope " means a reusable envelope of sufficient construction that when the optical scan ballot is inserted in it all portions indicating voting marks are hidden from view.

"Tabulating device " means the portable apparatus which examines and counts the votes recorded on the optical scan ballot and produces a paper printout of the results of the voting.

"Ticket" means each list of candidates nominated by a political party or group of petitioners.

"Undervote" means to vote for fewer than the permitted number of choices for any office or question on a ballot.

"Voting system" means the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical or electronic equipment (including the software, firmware and documentation required to program, control and support the equipment that is used to define ballots, to cast and count votes, to report or display election results and to maintain and produce any audit trail information). "Voting system" also includes the practices and associated documentation used to identify system components and versions of such components, to test the system during its development and maintenance, to maintain records of system errors and defects, to determine specific system changes to be made to a system after the initial qualification of the system and to make available any materials to the voter such as notices, instructions, forms or paper ballots. (See Section 301(b) of HAVA.)

"Voting target" means the space on an optical scan ballot which the voter marks to cast a vote for a candidate, judge or question. This target shall be printed according to the requirements of the voting system to be used to read the ballots.