721—21.300 (53) Satellite absentee voting stations. The county commissioner of elections may designate locations in the county for absentee voting stations. If the commissioner receives a petition requesting that a satellite absentee voting station be established at a location described on the petition, the commissioner shall provide the requested station if the petition was properly signed and filed. The petition shall be rejected if the site chosen is not accessible to elderly and disabled voters or has other physical limitations that make it impossible to meet the requirements for ballot security and secret voting, or if the owner of the site refuses permission to locate the satellite absentee voting station at the site named on the petition. The commissioner may also refuse to conduct satellite voting for the runoff election if a special election is scheduled to be held between the regular city election and a city runoff election. The petition may be refused if the owner of the site demands payment for its use.
The petition shall be signed by not less than 100 eligible electors of the county. The petition shall be filed with the commissioner no later than the deadline specified in Iowa Code section 53.11 for the election.
Satellite absentee voting stations established by petition shall be open for at least one day for a minimum of six hours. Satellite absentee voting stations shall be accessible to elderly and disabled voters.
Only ballots from the county in which the site is located may be provided at the satellite absentee voting station. However, it is not necessary to provide ballots from all of the precincts in the county.
	 21.300(1) Form of petition. The petition requesting that a satellite absentee voting station be established at a specific location shall be in substantially the following form:
	
STATE OF IOWA
PETITION FOR ABSENTEE VOTING STATION
Instructions: This petition may be signed by people who
	  ● 	 are U.S. citizens,
	  ● 	 are at least 18 years old,
	  ● 	 have not been convicted of a felony,
	  ● 	 have not been declared mentally incompetent by a court,
	  ● 	 and who live in this county.
They do not need to be registered voters.
The petition must be taken to the county auditor’s office before 5 p.m.	on  	 .
Date of election:  	
We, the people of  	  County, request that there be an absentee voting station at the place described below.
[Instructions: Give the address of the building, and the name of the building, if it has a name. Elderly and disabled voters must be able to get into the building to vote.]

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	 21.300(2) Notice provided. Notice shall be published at least seven days before the opening of any satellite absentee voting station. If more than one satellite absentee voting station will be provided, a single publication may be used to notify the public of their availability.
A notice shall also be posted at each satellite absentee voting station at least seven days before the opening of the satellite absentee voting station. The notice shall remain posted as long as the satellite absentee voting station is scheduled for service. If it is not possible to post the notice at least seven days before the station opens due to the receipt of a petition, the notice shall be posted as soon as possible.
Both the published and posted notices shall include the following information:
	  a.   	 The name and date of the election for which ballots will be available.
	  b.   	 The location(s) of the satellite absentee voting station(s).
	  c.   	 The dates and times that the station(s) will be open.
	  d.   	 The precincts for which ballots will be available.
	  e.   	 An announcement that voter registration forms will be available for new registrations in the county until the time registration closes before the election and that changes in the registration records of people who are currently registered within the county may be made at any time.
If the satellite absentee voting station is located in a building with more than one public entrance, brief notices of the location of the satellite absentee voting station shall be posted on building directories, bulletin boards, or doors. These notices shall be posted no later than the time the station opens and shall be removed immediately after the satellite absentee voting station has ceased operation for an election.
	 21.300(3) Staff. Satellite absentee voting station workers may be selected from among the staff members of the commissioner’s office, from the election board panel drawn up pursuant to Iowa Code sections 49.15 and 49.16, or a combination of these two sources. Compensation of workers selected from the election board panel shall be at the rate provided in Iowa Code section 49.20.
At least three people shall be assigned to work at each satellite absentee voting station; more workers may be added at the commissioner’s discretion. All workers must be registered voters of the county, and for primary and general elections the workers must be registered with a political party. No more than a simple majority of the workers shall be members of the same political party.
People who are prohibited from working at the polls pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.16 may not work at satellite absentee voting stations.
	 21.300(4) Oath required. Before the first day of service at a satellite absentee voting station each worker shall take the following oath:
I, _______________(name)______________, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will impartially, and to the best of my knowledge and ability, perform the duties of satellite absentee voting station worker, and will endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit and abuse in performing those duties.

 	 	Signature of worker	
 	 	 	
 	 	Address	
 	 	 	
Officer administering oath	 	Date	
The oath must be taken before each election.
	 21.300(5) Supplies needed for each satellite absentee voting station. Each satellite absentee voting station shall be provided with the following supplies:
	  a.   	 Voter registration forms for new registrations and changes of registration information.
	  b.   	 Absentee ballot application forms.
	  c.   	 An absentee voters’ log in which to record the names of electors casting absentee ballots, the serial numbers on their applications and affidavit envelopes, and the date the ballots are returned. The log may also be used to record the return of absentee ballots which were mailed.
	  d.   	 Affidavit envelopes for absentee ballots.
	  e.   	 Secrecy envelopes or folders, if needed for use with electronic voting systems.
	  f.   	 Absentee ballots in sealed container(s).
	  g.   	 Marking devices appropriate for the voting system that will be used to tabulate the ballots.
	  h.   	 Two or more voting booths, at least one of which shall be suitable for use by a person seated in a chair or wheelchair.
	  i.   	 One or more ballot boxes equipped with locks and keys, or tamperproof seals.
	  j.   	 Table and chairs for workers.
	  k.   	 Two or more chairs for voters.
	  l.   	 Barricade system to control access to voting area.
	  m.   	 Secure containers for returning unused ballots. Containers used to send ballots to the satellite absentee voting station may be reused.
	  n.   	 Paper clips, tape or rubber bands to attach request forms to affidavit envelopes.
	  o.   	 Pens and other supplies for the workers.
	  p.   	 Instructions in large type explaining the proper method of marking the ballot.
	  q.   	 A list of other satellite absentee voting stations in the county, if any, and their addresses and scheduled times of operation.
	  r.   	 Precinct finder.
	  s.   	 Sample ballots for each precinct served by the satellite absentee voting station.
	  t.   	 Envelope to return spoiled ballots.
	  u.   	 Special ballot envelopes and return envelope.
	 21.300(6) Ballot transport and storage. At the commissioner’s discretion the ballots may be transported between the commissioner’s office and the satellite absentee voting station by the workers who will be on duty that day, or by two people of different political parties who have been designated as couriers by the commissioner. It is not necessary for the same people to transport the ballots in both directions.
If the ballots are transported by the satellite absentee voting station workers, two workers who are members of different political parties and the ballots must travel together in the same vehicle.
Ballots may be stored at the satellite absentee voting station during hours when the station is closed only if they are kept in a locked cabinet or container. The cabinet must be located in a room which is kept locked when not in use. Voted absentee ballots must be delivered to the commissioner’s office at least once each week.
	 21.300(7) Ballot receipts. Satellite absentee voting station workers shall sign receipts for the ballots taken to the remote absentee voting site. The receipt shall be in substantially the following form:

 	SATELLITE ABSENTEE VOTING STATION
BALLOT RECORD AND RECEIPT	 	
 	Precincts voting at satellite station:  		 	
 	Location of satellite station:  		 	
 	Satellite station address:  		 	
 	BALLOTS DELIVERED TO THE SATELLITE ABSENTEE VOTING STATION	 	
 	Type of
Ballot	Number
Delivered	Delivered to:
(print name)	(signature of each worker)	 	

 	 	 	 	 	 	

 	TOTAL 	 *
DELIVERED	DATE:	TIME:	a.m.
p.m.	 	 	
 	BALLOTS RETURNED FROM THE SATELLITE ABSENTEE VOTING STATION	 	
 	Type of
Ballot	Voted	Spoiled	Special	Not
Voted	Returned	 	

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	

 	TOTAL NUMBER OF BALLOTS RETURNED:_____________________ *	 	
 	*The number of ballots returned must equal the number delivered.	 	
 	Number of ballots issued by mail and returned to this station:  		 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Print name	Signature	 	 	
 	Ballots received from: 		 	

 	 			 	
 	 			 	
 	a.m.		
 	RECEIVED BY: ____________________ DATE: ________ TIME:  		p.m.	 	
A copy of the ballot record and receipt shall be retained in the commissioner’s office. The original shall be sent with the ballots to the satellite absentee voting station.
	 21.300(8) Arrangement of the satellite absentee voting station. Protection of the security of the ballots (both voted and unvoted) and the secrecy of each person’s vote shall be considered in the arranging of the satellite absentee voting station.
	  a.   	 Security. The satellite absentee voting station shall be arranged so that ballots are protected against removal from the station by unauthorized people.
	  b.   	 Voting area. Voting booths without curtains shall be placed so that passersby and other voters may not walk directly behind a person using the booth. At least one voting booth must be accessible to the disabled. The booth must be designed to accommodate a person seated in a chair or wheelchair. A chair must be provided for voters who wish to sit down while voting.
	  c.   	 Electioneering. No signs supporting or opposing any candidate or question on the ballot shall be posted within 300 feet of the satellite absentee voting station. No electioneering shall be allowed within the sight or hearing of voters while they are at the satellite absentee voting station.
	  d.   	 Chair provided. One or more chairs must be available for use by elderly or disabled voters waiting in line.
	 21.300(9) Operation of the satellite absentee voting station. At all times the station shall have at least two workers present to preserve the security of the ballots, both voted and unvoted. At satellite absentee voting stations used for primary and general elections, no more than a simple majority of the workers shall be registered with the same political party.
	 21.300(10) Voter registration at the satellite absentee voting station. Each satellite absentee voting station shall provide forms necessary to register voters and to record changes in voter registration records. Workers shall also be provided with a method of verifying whether people applying for absentee ballots are registered voters.
The commissioner may provide a list of registered voters in the precincts served by the station. The list may be on paper, microfiche or other media.
As an alternative, the commissioner may provide a computer connection with the commissioner’s office.
	 21.300(11) Procedure for issuing absentee ballot. The following instructions for absentee voting are to be provided to all satellite absentee voting station workers:
HOW TO ISSUE ABSENTEE BALLOTS
	  1. 	 Application. Each person who wishes to vote shall complete an application for an absentee ballot.
	  2. 	 Check precinct. Check to be sure that the applicant’s address is in a precinct served by this station.
	  3. 	 Check registration. Check to see whether the applicant is a registered voter at the applicant’s current address. People who live in (county name) County but who are not currently registered to vote in the county may register to vote at the satellite absentee voting station until (the date registration closes for the election). Changes of name, address, telephone number or party affiliation may be submitted at any time.
After (date registration closes), anyone who requests an absentee ballot and who is not a registered voter in the county may register to vote if the person provides proof of identity and residence in the precinct in which the voter intends to vote. The voter must also complete an oath of person registering on election day. Otherwise, the person may cast only a provisional ballot. Use the provisional ballot envelopes.
Proof of identity must be a photo ID card that is current and valid and includes an expiration date. An ID is still current on the date it expires. An Iowa nonoperator’s ID card that shows “none” as an expiration date is considered current and valid. The following forms of identification are acceptable: an Iowa driver’s license or nonoperator’s ID, an out-of-state driver’s license or nonoperator’s ID, a United States passport, a United States military identification card, an identification card issued by an employer, or a student identification card issued by an Iowa high school or an Iowa postsecondary educational institution. If the photo ID does not show the person’s address in the appropriate precinct, the person must show proof of residence.
Proof of residence may be any of the following documents provided that the document shows the person’s name and address in the precinct: residential lease, property tax statement, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document.
A voter who does not have appropriate identification documents may have another registered voter from the same precinct attest to the person’s identity and residence. An attester must be a registered voter whose identity and residence have not been established by the attestation of another registered voter and must live in the same precinct as the applicant. The attester shall not attest to the identity of more than one person. The commissioner shall keep a list of all persons who have attested for in-person absentee registrants and shall send the list to the polling place on election day with the list of absentee voters required by Iowa Code section 49.72.
4. Affidavit envelope. Have the voter complete the affidavit envelope before you issue the ballot.
	  5. 	 Voters may ask for help. Anyone who is unable to mark a ballot without help may be helped by any person chosen by the voter. Exceptions: The following people may not help a voter—the voter’s employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union.
The voter may also request help from the satellite absentee voting station workers. Two workers from different political parties must assist the voter.
WARNING: Do not tell anyone how the person voted.
6. Issue ballot. When a voting booth is available, give the voter the appropriate ballot. Ballots must be voted at the satellite absentee voting station. Ballots may not be taken away from the station.
	  7. 	 Instruct voter. Instruct each voter to use only the pen or pencil provided by you, how to mark the ballot so that it can be counted, to enclose the ballot in the secrecy folder (if any), and to place the ballot in the affidavit envelope and seal it before returning it to the workers.
	  8. 	 Send voter to booth. Each voter must use a voting booth. Do not permit anyone to vote anywhere else.
	  9. 	 When the ballot is returned: Number the request form and the affidavit envelope with serial number and record the serial number in the log of absentee voters.
	  10. 	 Storing voted ballots and applications. Attach the application to the sealed affidavit envelope and insert them in the locked ballot box.
	 21.300(12) Closing the station. The following instructions for closing the absentee voting station are to be provided to all satellite absentee voting station workers:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLOSING
THE SATELLITE ABSENTEE VOTING STATION
At the end of each day, after everyone has voted who arrived before the time established to close the station, close the satellite absentee voting station. Each task on the list must be completed.
DO NOT OPEN ANY AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPES. These ballots will be opened and counted on election day.
	  1. 	 Count the number of ballots of each type which have not been voted.
	  2. 	 Record number of unvoted ballots by precinct on the ballot receipt form.
	  3. 	 Place the ballots in the container provided and securely seal or lock the container.
	  4. 	 Record the number of spoiled ballots by precinct on the ballot receipt form.
	  5. 	 Count the number of spoiled ballots by precinct and place in the envelope provided. Enter this number on the ballot receipt form. Securely seal the envelope. All officials must sign the envelope.
	  6. 	 From the absentee voters’ log determine how many ballots from each precinct have been voted.
	  7. 	 Compare the total number of ballots in the ballot box with the number of voters listed in the log. If there is a discrepancy, you must resolve it before leaving the station. If you cannot discover the source of the discrepancy, write a detailed explanation of the problem. All workers must sign the report.
	  8. 	 If couriers will be picking up the ballots, all workers must wait until both couriers arrive. Ask the couriers for identification before surrendering the ballots. If the workers are to return the ballots to the commissioner’s office, two workers who are members of different political parties and the ballots must travel together in the same vehicle to return the ballots.
	  9. 	 Never leave any ballots unattended.
	  10. 	 If the ballots will be stored at the satellite absentee voting station all workers must be present when the ballots are locked up. A daily log sheet shall be used to record the information requested above. When ballots are returned to the auditor’s office the information on the daily log sheets shall be accumulated and entered on the ballot record and receipt form.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 53.11 as amended by 2007 Iowa Acts, Senate File 416.