Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 721 - Secretary of State
Division II - Elections
Chapter 22 - Voting Systems and Electronic Poll Books
Rule 721-22.30 - Electronic Transmission of Election Results

(1) Certification of equipment. On or after December 17, 2003, new components for transmission of election results by any electronic means may be used in elections in Iowa only if the components are approved by the board of examiners for use with a certified voting system. Existing systems containing electronic transmission components in use before December 17, 2003, may continue to be used until January 1, 2006, when the Help America Vote Act voting system requirements become effective.

The examiners shall review the qualification test report submitted with the application for examination and testing of the voting system. If the test report for the voting system under examination shows that the electronic transmission components have met the voting system standards and the examiners concur, the electronic transmission components may be used in conjunction with the voting system. If the qualification test report or the examiners conclude that the electronic transmission components do not meet the voting system standards, or if this feature is not mentioned in the report, purchasers of the voting system may not transmit election results electronically.

(2) Procedures on election day. The election results may be transmitted electronically from voting equipment to the county commissioner of elections' office only after the precinct election officials have produced a written report of the election results as required by Iowa Code section 50.11. All election officials of the precinct shall sign the printed report of the election results. The signed copy shall be the official tabulation from that precinct.

(3) Procedures after election day. Before the canvass by the board of supervisors, the county commissioner of elections shall compare the signed, printed report from each precinct with the results transmitted electronically from the precinct on election night. The commissioner shall report any discrepancies between the two sets of election results to the board of supervisors. The signed, printed results produced pursuant to Iowa Code section 50.11 shall be considered the correct results.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 50.11 and 52.41.