Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 721 - Secretary of State
Division II - Elections
Chapter 25 - Election Administration-administrative Complaint Procedure
Rule 721-25.16 - Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers

(1) When service required. Except where otherwise provided by law, every pleading, motion, document, or other paper filed in a complaint proceeding and every paper relating to discovery in such a proceeding shall be served upon each of the parties of record to the proceeding simultaneously with their filing. Except for an application for rehearing as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.16(2), the party filing a document is responsible for service on all parties. Once a presiding officer has been assigned to a proceeding, copies of all motions or other written submissions shall also be served on the presiding officer.

(2) Service-how made. Service upon a party represented by an attorney shall be made upon the attorney unless otherwise ordered. Service is made by delivery or by mailing a copy to the person's last-known address. Service by mail is complete upon mailing, except where otherwise specifically provided by statute, rule, or order.

(3) Filing-when required. After the notice of hearing, all pleadings, motions, documents or other papers in a complaint proceeding shall be filed with the presiding officer. All pleadings, motions, documents or other papers that are required to be served upon a party shall be filed simultaneously with the presiding officer.

(4) Filing-when made. Except where otherwise provided by law, a document is deemed filed at the time it is received by the state commissioner of elections or the assigned presiding officer. If a document required to be filed within a prescribed period or on or before a particular date is received after such period or date, the document shall be deemed filed on the date it is mailed by first-class mail or state interoffice mail, so long as there is proof of mailing.

(5) Proof of mailing. Proof of mailing includes either a legible, nonmetered United States Postal Service postmark on the envelope, a certificate of service, a notarized affidavit, or a certification in substantially the following form:

I certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of Iowa that, on (date of mailing), I mailed copies of (describe document) addressed to the (insert name of presiding officer) and to the names and addresses of the parties listed below by depositing the same in (a United States post office mailbox with correct postage properly affixed or state interoffice mail).

(Date)__________(Signature)__________________

(6) Electronic service. The presiding officer may by order permit service or filing of particular documents by facsimile, E-mail or similar electronic means unless precluded by a provision of law. In the absence of such an order, facsimile or electronic transmission shall not satisfy service or filing requirements, but may be used to supplement service or filing when rapid notice is desirable.