Iowa Admin. Code r. 721-22.102

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 8, October 30, 2024

Rule 721-22.102 - Optical scan ballots

The optical scan ballots shall be printed pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 43 and 49 and by any relevant provisions of any statutes which specify the form of ballots for special elections, so far as possible within the constraints of the physical characteristics of the system.

(1) The optical scan ballots may be printed on both sides of a sheet of paper. If both sides are used, the words "Turn the ballot over" shall be clearly printed on the front and the back of the optical scan ballot, at the bottom.

(2) Printed at the top of the front side of the optical scan ballot shall be the name and date of the election; the words "Official Ballot"; a designation of the ballot style or precinct, if any; and a facsimile of the commissioner's signature.

(3) The voting target shall be printed opposite each candidate's name and write-in line on the optical scan ballot, and opposite the "yes" and "no" for each public measure and judge. The voting target shall be printed on the left side of the name or "yes" and "no". The voting target shall be an oval unless the voting system requires a target with a different shape.

(4) For partisan primary elections, the names of candidates representing each political party shall be printed on separate optical scan ballots. The ballots shall be uniform in quality, texture and size. The name of the political party shall be printed in at least 24-point type (%" high) at the top of the ballot.

(5) There shall be printed on the ballot a line to accommodate the initials of the precinct election official who endorses the ballot as provided in Iowa Code sections 43.36 and 49.82.

(6) It is not necessary for public measures to be printed on colored paper.

(7) Ballots shall be coded as necessary to allow the tabulation program to identify the appropriate ballots for the precinct. Ballots shall be coded so the tabulating device can identify by precinct the votes cast for each office and question on the ballot by precinct. The votes from the absentee and special voters precinct shall be reported as a single precinct except in general elections pursuant to Iowa Code section 53.20 as amended by 2008 Iowa Acts, House File 2367. Identical ballots shall not be coded to identify groups of voters within a precinct.

(8) No office or public measure on any ballot shall be divided to appear in more than one column or on more than one page of a ballot. If the full text of a public measure will not fit on a single column of the ballot, the commissioner shall prepare a summary for the ballot and post the full text in the voting booth as required by Iowa Code section 52.25.

(9) Ballots shall be stored in a locked room or storage area. Access to the storage area shall be restricted to those persons identified in the election security plan. Throughout the election process, the commissioner shall keep accurate records of the number of each type of ballot or ballot style printed for the election. This record shall include the number of ballots:

a. Ordered from the printer.

b. Printed and delivered by the printer to the commissioner. The commissioner may store sealed, unopened packages of ballots without verifying the number of ballots in the package.

c. Used for testing as required by Iowa Code sections 52.9 and 52.35 and rule 721-22.41(52).

d. Held in reserve for emergencies as required by Iowa Code section 49.66.

e. Delivered to and returned from the polling places as required by Iowa Code sections 49.65 and 50.10.

f. Used for absentee voting, including any spoiled ballots.

g. Issued as sample ballots to the public as permitted by Iowa Code section 43.30.

h. Photocopied ballots used pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.67.

i. Printed by the commissioner using any voting system program, such as Election Systems & Software's Ballot on Demand program.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 721-22.102