Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 721 - Secretary of State
Division II - Elections
Chapter 22 - Voting Systems and Electronic Poll Books
Rule 721-22.343 - Counting Absentee Ballots on the Day Before the General Election

Universal Citation: IA Admin Code 721-22.343

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 6, September 18, 2024

When absentee ballots are tabulated on the day before the election as permitted or required by Iowa Code section 53.23 as amended by 2009 Iowa Acts, House File 670, the absentee and special voters precinct board and county commissioner shall implement the following security precautions:

(1) Seal and label voted ballot envelopes or other containers with date of tabulation. The precinct election officials shall seal all ballots tabulated on the day before the election in a voted ballot envelope or other container labeled with the date of tabulation. The precinct election officials shall seal and sign the envelope or other container in a manner that will make it evident if the envelope or other container is opened.

(2) Ensure secure storage of all ballots. Before adjourning for the day, the precinct election officials shall transfer custody of all absentee ballots to the commissioner. The commissioner shall ensure all absentee ballots are stored in a secure location until tabulation is resumed on election day.

(3) Ensure memory card security. Before the absentee and special voters precinct board adjourns for the day, the memory card used in the tabulator(s) on the day before the election shall be secured by the precinct election officials in one of the following ways:

a. The memory card may be left in the tabulator when a tamper-evident seal is affixed over the memory card in a manner that will make it evident if the seal is removed.

b. The memory card may be removed from the tabulator and placed in an envelope. The precinct election officials shall seal the envelope in a manner that will make it evident if the envelope is opened.

(4) Ensure security of the tabulator(s). Before adjourning for the day, the precinct election officials shall ensure the security of the tabulator(s). The tabulator(s) must be stored in a secure location until the absentee and special voters precinct board resumes tabulation on election day.

(5) No results tape printing on the day before the election. No results tapes may be printed from the tabulator(s) on the day before the election.

(6) No upload of results to tabulating software until election day. No results may be uploaded or input into tabulating software on the day before the election.

(7) Verify no tampering before resuming tabulation on election day. Before tabulation resumes on election day, the absentee and special voters precinct board shall verify the tabulator(s), memory card(s) and memory card port(s) have not been obviously tampered with overnight.

(8) Resume tabulation. The absentee and special voters precinct board shall resume tabulation using one of the following methods:

a. Using the same memory card(s) used on the day before the election and resuming tabulation.

b. Using a new memory card(s) and compiling the results contained on the memory card(s) used on election day and on the day before the election.

(9) Print audit logs. After the election, the audit logs must be printed and be available for public inspection.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 39A.5, section 1, paragraph"a, " subparagraph (3), and Iowa Code section 53.23 as amended by 2009 Iowa Acts, House File 670.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Iowa may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.