Iowa Admin. Code r. 621-5.3 - Methods of voting-general procedures
The
(1)
In-person election. An
eligible voter shall cast the voter's ballot by marking the voter's choice on
the ballot and depositing it in the ballot box or inserting it in a voting
machine, whichever is applicable. If a voter inadvertently spoils a ballot, the
ballot may be returned to the agent who shall void and retain it and provide
another ballot to the voter. Eligible voters may be asked to cast their votes
via a nondocument ballot when there is a voting machine present that
accommodates this technology.
a.
Absentee ballot. An absentee ballot shall be delivered to an
eligible voter upon the voter's written notice to the agency of the voter's
inability to be present at the election. The marked absentee ballot shall be in
the possession of the election agent prior to the close of the in-person
election in order to be counted. The marked absentee ballot shall be contained
in the secret envelope provided to the voter, and the postage-paid,
return-addressed outer envelope provided for the return of the ballot to the
agency shall be signed by the voter in order for the ballot to be
counted.
b.
Observers. Each party to an election may designate an equal
number of representatives to act as the party 's observers during the election
and tally of ballots. Unless agreed to by the parties, observers shall not be
supervisory employees of the public employer.
c.
Ballot box. Upon
examination by the observers and prior to the opening of the polls, the
election agent shall seal the ballot box so that entry thereto is limited to
one slot. In the event that the election is continued for more than one polling
period or at more than one polling place, the ballot box shall be sealed in its
entirety and shall remain in the custody of the election agent until
immediately prior to the next polling period or the counting of the
ballots.
d.
Voting
machines. The agency may utilize voting machines to assist with the
casting or tabulation of votes.
e.
Tally. The agency shall tally the ballots by manual count or
electronic count and file the tally after the close of the election. Void
ballots are those which do not indicate a preference or the clear intent of the
voter or which appear to identify the voter. The employer shall promptly
distribute, electronically or by hard copy, copies of the tally of ballots to
the affected employees. The employer shall also promptly post copies of the
tally of ballots in the manner and locations customarily used for the posting
of information to employees.
(2)
Mail-ballot election.
When conducting a mail-ballot election, the agency shall send an official
voting package to each eligible voter by ordinary mail and direct a date by
which voted ballots must be received by the agency in order to be counted.
a.
Contents of official voting
packages. Voting packages sent to eligible voters shall consist of
voting instructions, a ballot, a secret envelope in which the marked ballot is
to be inserted, and a postage-paid, return-addressed outer envelope which
identifies the voter for purposes of proposing challenges to the voter's
eligibility. In the event of a challenge, both envelopes shall remain sealed
until such time as the challenge is resolved.
b.
Tally of
ballots-observers. The agency shall set a time and place for the tally
of ballots, at which time observers designated by the parties to the election
shall be entitled to be present. The voter's outer envelope shall be opened,
and the secret envelope containing the voter's ballot shall be commingled with
the other secret envelopes. The agency shall tally the ballots and file the
tally after the close of the election. Void ballots are those which do not
indicate a preference or the clear intent of the voter, which appear to
identify the voter, which are not enclosed in the secret envelope provided to
the voter, or which are returned in an outer envelope which does not bear the
voter's signature. The employer shall promptly distribute, electronically or by
hard copy, copies of the tally of ballots to the affected employees. The
employer shall also promptly post copies of the tally of ballots in the manner
and locations customarily used for the posting of information to
employees.
(3)
Telephonic/web-based election. The agency may utilize an
election services vendor for the receipt of telephonic and web-based ballots
and for the tabulation of those ballots.
a.
Notice of election. When conducting a telephonic/web-based
election, whether in whole or in part, the agency shall include in the notice
of election the telephone number the voter is to call to cast a ballot, the
website address for web-based voting and a sample ballot or script.
b.
Tally. Following the
close of the election period and the agency 's receipt of the ballot tabulation
from the election services vendor, the agency shall tally the ballots and file
the tally. Void or blank ballots are those which do not indicate a preference
or clear choice by the voter in favor of one of the voting options presented by
the ballot. The employer shall promptly distribute, electronically or by hard
copy, copies of the tally of ballots to the affected employees. The employer
shall also promptly post copies of the tally of ballots in the manner and
locations customarily used for the posting of information to
employees.
c.
Inoperable
voting system. The board may extend the period of the election due to
inoperable voting systems.
(4)
Alternate voting method.
When a voter promptly informs the agency of the voter's inability to cast a
ballot using the designated methods of voting, the agency shall assist the
voter in using an alternate method to cast a secret ballot.
Notes
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