Iowa Code r. 721-21.202 - Form of primary election ballot

All primary election ballots shall meet the following formatting requirements:

(1) Required information. In addition to other requirements listed in the Iowa Code, primary election ballots shall also include the following information:

a. The name of the election.

b. The name of the party, which shall be printed at the top of the ballot in at least 24-point type.

c. The name of the county.

d. Instructions for how to mark the ballot.

(2) Headings and lines. Rescinded IAB 9/8/10, effective 8/16/10.

(3) Office titles and order of offices. Each office printed on the ballot shall be preceded by an office title. The order of offices on the primary election ballot shall be as follows:

a. In gubernatorial election years, the order of office titles on the primary election ballot shall be listed as follows:

(1) U.S. Senator (if any).

(2) U.S. Representative, District ___.

(3) Governor.

(4) Secretary of State.

(5) Auditor of State.

(6) Treasurer of State.

(7) Secretary of Agriculture.

(8) Attorney General.

(9) State Senator, district ___ (if any).

(10) State Representative, District ___.

(11) Board of Supervisors (if plan II or plan III, then Board of Supervisors, District ___).

(12) Treasurer.

(13) Recorder.

(14) County Attorney.

b. In presidential election years, the order of office titles on the primary election ballot shall be listed as follows:

(1) U.S. Senator (if any).

(2) U.S. Representative, District ___.

(3) State Senator, District ___ (if any).

(4) State Representative, District ___.

(5) Board of Supervisors (if plan II or plan III, then Board of Supervisors, District ___).

(6) Auditor.

(7) Sheriff.

c. If an office is printed on the primary election ballot followed by the words "To Fill Vacancy," that office shall be listed after the other offices under the appropriate heading. If the office followed by the words "To Fill Vacancy" is the board of supervisors, that office shall appear after the other board of supervisors office(s).

(4) Vote for number. Under each office title, the number of choices a voter may make in the race shall be printed in the following form: "Vote for no more than ___." The number of choices the voter may make for each race is the number of individuals to be elected to the office at the general election.

(5) Write-in vote targets. After the candidates' names for each office (if any), a target shall be placed next to a line for voters to write in a nominee for the office. The number of write-in targets and lines printed under each office shall match the vote for number referenced in subrule 21.202(4). Under each write-in line, the following words shall be printed: "Write-in vote, if any."

(6) Font size. Candidates' names shall be printed in upper and lower case letters, and the font size shall be no less than 10-point type.

(7) Two-sided ballots. If a primary election ballot must be printed on two sides, the words "Turn the ballot over" shall be printed on both sides of the ballot, at the bottom.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 43.31.

Notes

Iowa Code r. 721-21.202

ARC 8698B, IAB 4/21/10, effective 6/15/10; ARC 9049B, IAB 9/8/10, effective 8/16/10; ARC 1831C, IAB 1/21/15, effective 2/25/15