Iowa Admin. Code r. 721-22.51

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

Rule 721-22.51 - Memory cards

A memory card is a small, removable device containing data files of the election definition programmed for use in voting equipment for each election. For all voting equipment, the following security measures are required:

(1)Serial number. Each memory card shall have a serial number printed on a readily visible label. The label shall include the name of the county.

(2)Inventory. Memory cards owned by the county and retained in the custody of the county commissioner shall be maintained under perpetual inventory, with a record of inventory activity. The commissioner shall maintain a similar record of relevant actions if the memory cards are acquired from a vendor for each election. The record of inventory activity shall reflect:

a. The date each memory card was acquired;

b. Each use of each memory card in an election;

c. Each maintenance activity to a memory card, such as changing the battery;

d. Any problems or errors detected while using the memory card during its life;

e. Records of the disposal of any memory cards at the end of their useful life or upon return to the vendor for maintenance or warranty claims.

(3)Custody.

a. In counties where the commissioner has the necessary software and equipment to program the memory cards locally, the commissioner shall maintain a memory card log for each election as required in subrule 22.51(4) during the period when the memory cards are removed from storage, prepared for an election, and until they are sealed into a voting device. Only county employees and precinct election officials, as applicable, authorized by the county's security policy shall be permitted to handle the memory cards. No one individual should be alone with the unsecured memory cards at any time. If a person who is not authorized by the security policy to have access to the memory cards transports them to another location, such as a warehouse, the memory cards shall be enclosed in a transport container with a tamper-evident seal.

b. In counties where the commissioner purchases programming services from a vendor, the memory cards shall be shipped to and from the vendor by a shipping service that employs tracking numbers. The memory cards shall be enclosed in a package sealed with a numbered, tamper-evident seal. Programmed memory cards shall be shipped in a package sealed with a numbered, tamper-evident seal from the vendor to the commissioner. If the seal is not intact upon arrival, the commissioner shall immediately contact the vendor for replacement cards. Only county employees authorized by the county's security policy (and precinct election officials, as applicable) shall be permitted to handle the memory cards. No one individual should be alone with the unsecured memory cards at any time.

(4)Memory card log. For each election, the commissioner shall create a log to record the serial numbers of each memory card, the voting device into which the memory card was installed, the serial number of the seal, the ballot style and the precinct to which the machine is assigned. The log shall be in substantially the same form as Form A or Form B, as applicable:

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(11)Storage. If the memory cards are returned inside the voting equipment to the commissioner, the machine serial numbers and the seal numbers shall be verified against the verification log described in subrule 22.51(8). When the memory cards are removed, their serial numbers shall also be verified against the verification log returned by the precinct's election officials. The memory card audit log shall be retained for the time period required by Iowa Code section 50.19.

(12)Results verified. Before the conclusion of the canvass of votes, the individual results reports from the precincts, as signed by the precinct election officials at the polls on election night, shall be compared to the election results compiled for the canvass (either manually or electronically) to verify that transmitted and accumulated totals match the results witnessed by the election officials. Any discrepancies in these totals shall be reconciled before the supervisors conclude the canvass.

(13)Retention of programmed memory cards. The election information on all memory cards used for an election shall be retained on the memory cards until after the time to file requests for recounts and election contests has passed. If a contest is pending, the memory cards shall be retained until the contest is resolved. Before the memory cards are permanently erased, the commissioner shall print the memory card audit log from each card.

(14)Retention of program information. The commissioner shall retain all instructions and other written records of the process for programming the memory cards and the memory card audit logs for the period required by Iowa Code section 50.19. The contents of memory cards and other electronic records of the election process shall be collected and retained in an electronic or other medium and stored with the other election records for the time period required by Iowa Code section 50.19.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 721-22.51

ARC 0801C, IAB 6/26/13, effective 7/31/13