CHAPTER 21ELECTION FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS[Prior to 7/13/88, see Secretary of State[750], Ch 11]DIVISION IGENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES72121.1(47) Emergency election procedures. The state commissioner of elections may exercise emergency powers over any election being held in a district in which either a natural or other disaster or extremely inclement weather has occurred. The state commissioner may also exercise emergency powers during an armed conflict involving United States armed forces, or mobilization of those forces, or if an election contest court finds that there were errors in the conduct of an election making it impossible to determine the result. 21.1(1) Definitions.
"Commissioner" means the county commissioner of elections.
"Election contest court" means any of the courts specified in Iowa Code sections 57.1, 58.4, 61.1, 62.1 and 376.10.
"Extremely inclement weather" means a natural occurrence, such as a rainstorm, windstorm, ice storm, blizzard, tornado or other weather conditions, which makes travel extremely dangerous or which threatens the public peace, health and safety of the people or which damages and destroys public and private property.
"Natural disaster" means a natural occurrence, such as a fire, flood, blizzard, earthquake, tornado, windstorm, ice storm, or other events, which threatens the public peace, health and safety of the people or which damages and destroys public and private property.
"Other disaster" means an occurrence caused by machines or people, such as fire, hazardous substance or nuclear power plant accident or incident, which threatens the public peace, health and safety of the people or which damages and destroys public and private property.
"State commissioner" means the state commissioner of elections.
21.1(2) Notice of natural or other disaster or extremely inclement weather. The county commissioner of elections, or the commissioner’s designee, may notify the state commissioner of elections that due to a natural or other disaster or extremely inclement weather an election cannot safely be conducted in the time or place for which the election is scheduled to be held. If the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee is unable to transmit notice of the hazardous conditions, the notice may be given by any elected county official. Verification of the commissioner’s agreement with the severity of the conditions and the danger to the election process shall be transmitted to the state commissioner as soon as possible. Notice may be given by telephone or by facsimile machine, but a signed notice shall also be delivered to the state commissioner. 21.1(3) Declaration of emergency due to natural or other disaster or extremely inclement weather. After receiving notice of hazardous conditions, the state commissioner of elections, or the state commissioner’s designee, may declare that an emergency exists in the affected precinct or precincts. A copy of the declaration of the emergency shall be provided to the commissioner. 21.1(4) Emergency modifications to conduct of elections. When the state commissioner of elections has declared that an emergency exists due to a natural or other disaster or to extremely inclement weather, the county commissioner of elections, or the commissioner’s designee, shall consult with the state commissioner to develop a plan to conduct the election under the emergency conditions. All modifications to the usual method for conducting elections shall be approved in advance by the state commissioner unless prior approval is impossible to obtain.Modifications may be made to the method for conducting the election including relocation of the polling place, postponement of the hour of opening the polls, postponement of the date of the election if no candidates for federal offices are on the ballot, reduction in the number of precinct election officials in nonpartisan elections, or other reasonable and prudent modifications that will permit the election to be conducted. 21.1(5) Relocation of polling place. The substitute polling place shall be as close as possible to the usual polling place and shall be within the same precinct if possible. Preference shall be given to buildings which are accessible to the elderly and disabled. Buildings supported by taxation shall be made available without charge by the authorities responsible for their administration. If it is necessary, more than one precinct may be located in the same room.A notice of the location of the substitute polling place shall be posted on the door of the former polling place not later than one hour before the scheduled time for opening the polls or as soon as possible. If it is unsafe or impossible to post the sign on the door of the former polling place, the notice shall be posted in some other visible place at or near the site of the former polling place. If time permits, notice of the relocation of the polling place shall be published in the same newspaper in which notice of election was published, otherwise notice of relocation may be published in any newspaper of general circulation in the political subdivision which will appear on or before election day. The commissioner shall inform all broadcast media and print news organizations serving the jurisdiction of the modifications. 21.1(6) Postponement of election. An election, other than an election at which a federal office appears on the ballot, may be postponed until the following Tuesday. If the election involves more than one precinct, the postponement must include all precincts within the political subdivision. If the election is postponed, ballots shall not be reprinted to reflect the modification in the election date. The date of the close of voter preregistration by mail for the election shall not be extended. Precinct election registers prepared for the original election date may be used or reprinted at the commissioner’s discretion.On the day that the postponed election is actually held, all election day procedures must be repeated. 21.1(7) Absentee voting in postponed elections. Absentee ballots shall be delivered to voters pursuant to Iowa Code section 53.22 until the date the election is actually held. Absentee ballots shall be accepted at the commissioner’s office until the hour the polls close on the date the election is held. Absentee ballots which are postmarked or which bear an Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) traceable to a date of entry into the federal mail system no later than the day before the election is actually held shall be accepted if received no later than the time prescribed by the Iowa Code for the usual conduct of the election. The time shall be calculated from the date on which the election is held, not the date for which the election was originally scheduled. However, if absentee ballots have been tabulated before the election is postponed, the absentee ballots shall be sealed in an envelope by the absentee and special voters precinct board and stored securely until the date the election is actually held. The sealed envelopes shall be opened by the absentee and special voters precinct board on the date the election is actually held, counters on the tabulating equipment (if any) shall be reset to zero, and all absentee ballots tabulated on the original election date shall be retabulated. 21.1(8) Absentee and special voters precinct board in postponed elections. The absentee and special voters precinct board shall meet to consider provisional ballots at the times specified in Iowa Code sections 50.22 and 52.23, calculated from the date the election is held. No absentee ballots shall be counted until the date the election is held. 21.1(9) Canvass of votes in postponed elections. The canvass of votes shall also be rescheduled for one week after the originally scheduled canvass date. 21.1(10) Postponements made on election day. If the emergency is declared while the polls are open and the decision is made to postpone the election, each precinct polling place in the political subdivision shall be notified to close its doors and to halt all voting immediately. People present in the polling place who are waiting to vote shall not be given ballots. People who have received and marked their ballots shall deposit them in the ballot box; unmarked ballots may be returned to the precinct election officials.The precinct election officials shall seal all ballots which were cast before the declaration of the emergency in secure containers. The containers shall be clearly marked as ballots from the postponed election. If it is safe to do so, the ballot containers, election register, and other election supplies shall be transported to the commissioner’s office. The ballots shall be stored in a secure place. If it is unsafe to travel to the commissioner’s office, the chairperson of the precinct election board shall see that the ballots and the election register are securely stored until it is safe to return them to the commissioner. If no contest is pending six months after the canvass for the election is completed, the unopened, sealed ballot containers shall be destroyed.If automatic tabulating equipment is used, the automatic tabulating equipment shall be closed and sealed without printing the results. Before the date the election is held, the automatic tabulating equipment shall be reset to zero. Documents showing the progress of the count, if any, shall be sealed in an envelope and stored. No one shall reveal the progress of the count. After six months, the sealed envelope containing the vote totals shall be destroyed if no contest is pending. 21.1(11) Records kept. The state commissioner of elections shall maintain records of each emergency declaration. The records of emergency declarations for federal elections shall be kept for 22 months, and records for all other elections shall be kept for six months following the election. The records shall include the following information: a. The county in which the emergency occurred. b. The date and time the emergency declaration was requested. c. The name and title of the person making the request. d. Name and date of the election affected. e. The jurisdiction for which the election is to be conducted (school, city, county, or other). f. The number of precincts in the jurisdiction. g. The number of precincts affected by the emergency. h. The nature of the emergency, i.e., natural or other disaster, or extremely inclement weather. i. The date or dates of the occurrence of the natural or other disaster or extremely inclement weather. j. Conditions affecting the conduct of the election. k. Whether the polling places may safely be opened on time. l. Action taken: such as moving the polling place, change voting system, postpone election until the following Tuesday. m. Method to be used to inform the public of changes made in the election procedure. n. The signature of the state commissioner or the state commissioner’s designee who was responsible for declaring the emergency. 21.1(12) Federal elections. a. If an emergency occurs that will adversely affect the conduct of an election at which candidates for federal office will appear on the ballot, the election shall not be postponed or delayed. Emergency measures shall be limited to relocation of polling places, modification of the method of voting, reduction of the number of precinct election officials at a precinct and other modifications of prescribed election procedures which will enable the election to be conducted on the date and during the hours required by law.The primary election held in June of even-numbered years and the general election held in November of even-numbered years shall not be postponed. Special elections called by the governor pursuant to Iowa Code section 69.14 shall not be postponed unless no federal office appears on the ballot. b. If a federal or state court order extends the time established for closing the polls pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.73, any person who votes after the statutory hour for closing the polls shall vote only by casting a provisional ballot pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.81. Provisional ballots cast after the statutory hour for closing the polls shall be sealed in a separate envelope from provisional ballots cast during the statutory polling hours. The absentee and special voters precinct board shall tabulate and report the results of the two sets of provisional ballots separately. 21.1(13) Military emergencies. A voter who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and Iowa Code chapter 53, division II, “Absent Voting by Armed Forces,” may return an absentee ballot via electronic transmission only if the voter is located in an area designated by the U.S. Department of Defense to be an imminent danger pay area or if the voter is an active member of the army, navy, marine corps, merchant marine, coast guard, air force or Iowa national guard and is located outside the United States or any of its territories. Procedures for the return of absentee ballots by electronic transmission are described in subrule 21.320(4). 21.1(14) Election contest emergency. If an election contest court finds that there were errors in the conduct of an election which make it impossible to determine the result of the election, the contest court shall notify the state commissioner of elections of its finding. The state commissioner shall order a repeat election to be held. The repeat election date shall be set by the state commissioner. The repeat election shall be conducted under the state commissioner’s supervision.The repeat election shall be held at the earliest possible time, but it shall not be held earlier than 14 days after the date the election was set aside. Voter registration, publication, equipment testing and other applicable deadlines shall be calculated from the date of the repeat election.The repeat election shall be conducted under the same procedures required for the election that was set aside, except that all known errors in preparation and procedure shall be corrected. The nominations from the initial election shall be used in the repeat election unless the contest court specifically rejects the initial nomination process in its findings. Precinct election officials for the repeat election may be replaced at the discretion of the auditor.The following materials prepared for the original election shall be used or reconstructed for the repeat election:Ballots (showing the date of repeat election). This may be stamped on ballots printed for the original election.Notice of election (showing the date of repeat election).This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 47.1.Related ARC(s): 8045B, 9989B, 2663C72121.2(47) Electronic submission of absentee ballot applications and affidavits of candidacy. Absentee ballot applications and affidavits of candidacy may be submitted electronically using either fax or email. 21.2(1) Electronic copies of absentee ballot applications and affidavits of candidacy accepted for filing. Assuming that all other legal requirements are met, absentee ballot applications and affidavits of candidacy required by Iowa Code chapters 43, 44, 45, 161A, 260C, 277, 376 and 420 may be submitted electronically by either fax or email if presented to the appropriate filing officer as an exact copy of the original and if the submission is in compliance with subrule 21.2(2). 21.2(2) Original absentee ballot applications. The original absentee ballot application submitted electronically shall also be mailed or delivered to the commissioner. If mailed, the envelope bearing the original absentee ballot application shall be postmarked not later than the voter registration deadline provided in Iowa Code section 48A.9 for the election for which the ballot is requested. This subrule shall not apply to documents submitted electronically by UOCAVA voters pursuant to rule 721—21.320(53).The voter’s absentee ballot shall be rejected by the absentee and special voters precinct board if the original absentee ballot application which was filed electronically is not received by the time the polls close on election day. 21.2(3) Original affidavits of candidacy. The original copy of an affidavit of candidacy submitted electronically shall also be filed with the appropriate commissioner. The envelope bearing the original affidavit (if any) shall be postmarked not later than the last day to file the document. a. The filing shall be void if the original affidavit of candidacy filed electronically is not received within seven days after the filing deadline for the original affidavit of candidacy. b. The filing shall be void if the postmark on the envelope containing the original affidavit of candidacy is later than the filing deadline. c. If an affidavit of candidacy filing is voided because the original affidavit of candidacy submitted by facsimile machine was postmarked too late or arrives too late, the person who filed the document shall be notified immediately in writing.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 43.11, 43.19, 43.54, 43.67, 43.78, 44.3, 45.3, 45.4, 46.20, 47.1, 47.2, 53.2, 53.8, 53.17, 53.22, 53.25, 53.40, 53.45, 61.3, 161A.5, 260C.15, 277.4, 376.4, 376.11 and 420.130.Related ARC(s): 8045B, 9879B, 1831C, 2663C, 3447C, 6063C72121.3(49, 48A) Voter identification documents. 21.3(1) Identification documents for persons other than election day registrants. a. Unless the person is registering to vote at the polls on election day, precinct election officials shall accept the identification documents listed in Iowa Code section 48A.8 and 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 27, from any person who is asked or required to present identification pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.77. b. Current and valid identification. “Current and valid” or “identification,” for persons other than election day registrants, means identification that meets the following criteria: (1) Iowa driver’s licenses and nonoperator’s identification cards used to establish identity pursuant to 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 27, shall be accepted up to 90 days after the expiration date listed on the license. It is still acceptable on the ninetieth day. An Iowa nonoperator’s identification card that does not expire shall be considered current and valid. (2) Veterans and military identification cards that do not contain an expiration date or that do not expire and voter identification cards issued pursuant to 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 18, shall be considered current and valid. (3) For registration pursuant to Iowa Code section 48A.8, the proof of residence must be dated, or describe terms of residency current to, within 45 days prior to submission. (4) All other forms of identification used to establish identity pursuant to 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 27, shall not be expired. An identification is still valid on the expiration date. c. A current and valid identification may include a former address, when used for identification purposes only. 21.3(2) Identification for election day registrants. a. A person who applies to register to vote on election day shall provide proof of identity and residence pursuant to Iowa Code section 48A.7A and 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 27, in the precinct where the person is applying to register and vote. b. Any registered voter who attests for another person registering to vote at the polls on election day shall meet the requirements in Iowa Code section 48A.7A. The registered voter may be a precinct election official or a pollwatcher, but may not attest for more than one person applying to register at the same election. c. Current and valid identification. “Current and valid” or “identification,” for the purposes of election day registration, means identification that meets the following criteria: (1) The expiration date on the identification card has not passed. An identification is still valid on the expiration date. An Iowa nonoperator’s identification card that does not expire shall be considered current and valid. (2) Veterans and military identification cards that do not contain an expiration date or that do not expire and voter identification cards issued pursuant to 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 18, shall be considered current and valid. d. A current and valid identification may include a former address, when used for identification purposes only. 21.3(3) Proof of residence standards for all voters. Any person required to present proof of residence pursuant to Iowa Code sections 48A.7A and 48A.8 shall provide documentation that meets the following requirements: a. The proof of residence document must be listed in Iowa Code section 48A.7A or 48A.8. b. The document must be current within 45 days of election day, unless otherwise provided by law. c. A residential lease’s stated term must include election day. d. Property tax statements are current within 45 days of March 31 or the final payment date, if the final payment date is stated in the document. 21.3(4) Identification not provided. After January 1, 2019, a person who is required to provide identification and does not provide it shall vote only by provisional ballot pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.81. However, a person who is registering to vote on election day pursuant to Iowa Code section 48A.7A may establish identity and residency in the precinct by written oath of a person who is registered to vote in the precinct. A registered voter may only attest for one election day registrant. 21.3(5) Attesting to identity by signing oath. A person who cannot show proof of identity at the polls may swear to the oath appearing in 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 27(8). This provision is repealed effective January 1, 2019. 21.3(6) Determination of identity and residency. Proof of identity and residence of persons offering to vote is presumed valid unless the precinct election official determines the proof offered does not match the voter. In determining whether a person offering to vote is eligible under Iowa Code section 48A.7A and Iowa Code chapter 49, precinct election officials shall consider all of the information presented by the person offering to vote prior to determining that the person is not eligible. The following are factors that shall be considered by precinct election officials in making the determination: a. Changes to the voter’s physical appearance or signature, b. Time elapsed since the proof was generated, subject to the Iowa Code sections that govern the validity and expiration timelines of the proof, c. Other documentation allowable under Iowa Code chapter 48A to prove the facts in question. 21.3(7) Post-election day proof of identity or residency. As of January 1, 2019, a person required to cast a provisional ballot under this rule may submit proof of identity or residence after election day. The proof must be received by the commissioner not later than 12 noon on the Monday following the election, or if the law authorizing the election specifies that the supervisors canvass the votes earlier than the Monday following the election, it must be received by the commissioner before the canvass for that election by the board of supervisors. Defects may be cured through the use of documentation as permitted under Iowa Code section 48A.7A or 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 27. If such defects are cured, the voter’s ballot shall be counted.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 48A.7A and 49.77, 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 27, and the Help America Vote Act.Related ARC(s): 8045B, 1831C, 3447C72121.4(49) Changes of address at the polls. An Iowa voter who has moved from one precinct to another in the county where the person is registered to vote may report a change of address at the polls on election day. 21.4(1) To qualify to vote in the election being held that day, the voter shall: a. Go to the polling place for the precinct where the voter lives on election day. b. Complete a registration form showing the person’s current address in the precinct. c. Present proof of residence and identity as required by subrules21.3(1) through 21.3(4). 21.4(2) The officials shall require a person who is reporting a change of address at the polls to cast a provisional ballot if the person’s registration in the county cannot be confirmed. Registration may be confirmed by: a. Telephoning the office of the county commissioner of elections, or b. Reviewing a printed list of all registered voters who are qualified to vote in the county for the election being held that day, or c. Researching the county’s voter registration records using a computer. 21.4(3) In precincts where the voter’s declaration of eligibility is included in the election register pursuant to rule 721—21.5(49) and Iowa Code section 49.77, the commissioner shall provide to each precinct one of the two following methods for recording changes of address: a. The voter shall be given both an eligibility declaration and a voter registration form. The eligibility declaration may be printed on the same piece of paper as the voter registration form. b. The commissioner shall provide blank lines on the election register for the precinct election officials to record the voter’s name, address, and, if provided, telephone number, and, in primary elections, political party affiliation. The voter shall sign the election register next to the printed information. The voter shall also complete a voter registration form showing the voter’s current address.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 49.77.Related ARC(s): 8045B, 1831C, 3447C72121.5(49) Eligibility declarations in the election register. To compensate for the absence of a separate declaration of eligibility form, the commissioner shall provide to each precinct a voter roster with space for each person who appears at the precinct to vote to print the following information: first and last name, address, date of birth, and, at the voter’s option, telephone number, and, in primary elections, political party affiliation.The roster forms shall include the name and date of the election and the name of the precinct, and may be provided on paper that makes carbonless copies. If a multicopy form is used, the commissioner shall retain the original copy of the voter roster with other records of the election.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 49.77.Related ARC(s): 8045B, 3447C72121.6(43, 50) Turnout reports. Rescinded IAB 6/2/10, effective 7/1/10.72121.7(48A) Election day registration. In addition to complying with the identification provisions in rule 721—21.3(49,48A), precinct election officials shall comply with the following requirements: 21.7(1) Precinct election officials shall inspect the identification documents presented by election day registrants to verify the following: a. The photograph shows the person who is registering to vote, and the document has not expired. b. The name on the identification document is the same as the name of the applicant. c. The address on the proof of residence document is in the precinct where the person is registering to vote and is current within 45 days. 21.7(2) Precinct election officials shall verify that each person who attempts to attest to the identity and residence of a person who is registering to vote on election day is a registered voter in the precinct and has not attested for any other voter in the election. The officials shall note in the election register that the person has attested for an election day registrant. 21.7(3) Precinct election officials shall permit any person who is in line to vote at the time the polls close to register and vote on election day if the person otherwise meets all of the election day registration requirements. 21.7(4) In precincts where an electronic program is not used to check the name of an election day registrant against the statewide list of felons who have had their right to vote revoked, the voter shall be required to cast a provisional ballot. The voter shall be allowed to present evidence of the person’s right to vote until 12 noon on the Monday following the election, or if the law authorizing the election specifies that the supervisors canvass the votes earlier than the Monday following the election, the evidence must be received by the commissioner before the canvass for that election by the board of supervisors. Precinct election officials shall provide each election day registrant with a “Notice to Election Day Registrants” prepared by the state commissioner before allowing the voter to register and vote on election day. The “Notice to Election Day Registrants” prepared by the state commissioner will be posted on the state commissioner’s website.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 48A.7A.Related ARC(s): 8045B, 8777B, 1831C, 3447C72121.8(48A) Notice to election day registrant. The commissioner shall send to each person who registers to vote on election day, pursuant to Iowa Code section 48A.7A, an acknowledgment of the registration by nonforwardable mail. If the postal service returns the acknowledgment as undeliverable, the commissioner shall send a notice to the voter by forwardable mail. The notice shall be substantially in the form titled “Notice to Election Day Registrant” posted on the state commissioner’s website.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 48A.7A and 48A.26A.Related ARC(s): 8045B72121.9(49) “Vote here” signs. - Size. The signs shall be no smaller than 16 inches by 24 inches.
- Exceptions. If a driveway leads away from the entrance to the voting area, or if the driveway is located in such a way that posting a “vote here” sign at the driveway entrance would not help potential voters find the voting area, no “vote here” sign shall be posted at the entrance to that driveway.
- Fees as provided in Iowa Code section 62.22.
- Fees for judges as provided in Iowa Code section 62.23.
- The cost of making an official record of the proceedings.
"Voting center" means a location established by the commissioner for the purpose of providing ballots to all registered voters who are qualified to vote in a particular jurisdiction for a regular city election, city primary election, city runoff election, regular school election, or special election.
21.75(2) Minimum requirements. a. Establishment. One or more voting centers may be established in lieu of precinct polling places for the elections at which the use of voting centers is permitted. Regular polling place sites that are accessible to people with disabilities may be used as voting centers for any election at which the use of voting centers is permitted. Other suitable locations may also be used. b. Location of voting centers. If voting centers are established for an election, at least one voting center must be located within the boundaries of the political subdivision for which the election is being conducted. At the commissioner’s discretion, additional vote centers may be established as long as the voting center is located within the boundaries of the political subdivision for which the election is being conducted. c. Accessibility. A voting center is subject to the requirements of Iowa Code section 49.21 relating to accessibility to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities and relating to the posting of signs. 21.75(3) Hours. Voting center hours shall be the same as permitted for an election pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.73. 21.75(4) Publications. The location of each voting center shall be published in the notice of election by the commissioner in the same manner as the location of polling places is required to be published. The notice of election shall also include a description of the voting center in substantially the following form:For the ____________ election to be held on [date], voting centers will be available. Any registered voter of [jurisdiction name] may vote at any of the following places in this election:[List addresses of voting centers.] 21.75(5) Posting notices at regular polling places on election day. If voting centers are established in lieu of regular polling places for an election, the commissioner shall post a notice of voting center locations, not later than the hour at which the polls open on the day of the election, on each door to the usual polling place in the precinct. The notice shall remain posted until the polls have closed. 21.75(6) I-Voters use prohibited. The commissioner shall not provide direct access from voting centers to the I-Voters system on election day. 21.75(7) Determining ballot rotations. For the purposes of determining ballot rotations pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.31 in an election for which the commissioner has established voting centers, the commissioner may use either precincts established pursuant to Iowa Code sections 49.3 to 49.5 or consolidated precincts established pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.11, subsection 3, paragraph “a.” If the commissioner uses consolidated precincts established pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.11, subsection 3, paragraph “a,” the commissioner shall use the same consolidated precincts used in the last regularly scheduled election conducted for the political subdivision in which voting centers were not used. 21.75(8) Operation of voting centers. a. Election registers and voter lists. Each voting center shall have an election register containing the names, addresses and voter statuses of all registered voters who are eligible to vote in that election. The election register may be a paper list or may be available on computers in an electronic format, rather than as an interactive connection to I-Voters. b. Election day registration at voting centers. A person who needs to register to vote may register and vote at a voting center provided that the person has appropriate identification and is a resident of the jurisdiction served by the voting center. c. Voters reporting address changes at voting centers. Any person who is already registered in the county and updates the person’s voter registration address at a voting center shall show identification listed in Iowa Code section 48A.8. Persons unable to provide requested identification shall be offered a provisional ballot pursuant to Iowa Code section 49.81. d. Ballots. Each voting center shall have all ballot styles necessary to provide a ballot to any voter who is eligible to vote in the election for the jurisdiction served by the voting center. e. Precinct election officials. Voting centers shall be administered by a minimum of three precinct election officials selected pursuant to Iowa Code sections 49.12 to 49.16. These officials shall be trained before each election and shall have specific instructions regarding the differences between voting centers and polling places. f. Ballot boxes used with optical scan voting equipment at voting centers. The commissioner may instruct two precinct election officials not of the same political party to open the ballot box periodically throughout election day to ensure the ballots are stacking evenly in the ballot box to prevent a voting equipment malfunction. The precinct election officials charged with inspecting the ballot box shall ensure the ballot box is locked and secured at all times. As an alternative to this procedure, the commissioner may supply any voting center with additional ballot boxes and the precinct election officials may move the optical scan voting equipment to a new ballot box if necessary. All ballot boxes containing voted ballots shall be locked and secured by the precinct election officials at all times. 21.75(9) Postelection review of voter participation. a. Within 45 days after the election, the commissioner shall review the signed declarations of eligibility or the signed election registers from each voting center, and if any person is found to have voted in more than one voting center in the election, the commissioner shall immediately notify the county attorney. b. The notice to the county attorney shall include a copy of the person’s voter registration record and copies of the declarations of eligibility signed by the voter. The notice shall also include a reference to Iowa Code sections 39A.2(2) and 49.11(3)“b.”This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 49.9 and 49.11.Related ARC(s): 8045B72121.76(48A) Electronic poll book training for poll workers. The state commissioner shall create and maintain training materials for poll workers relating to voter identification and the use of electronic poll books. The training materials shall be available from the state commissioner’s website.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 48A.7A as amended by 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 16.Related ARC(s): 3447C72121.77(49) Photographing ballots. A voter may not use a photographic device to display a voted ballot if doing so interferes with other voters or the orderly operation of the polling location or violates any part of Iowa Code chapter 39A. The display shall only include the voter and the voter’s ballot.“Interferes,” for purposes of this rule, means loitering, congregating, interrupting, or hindering a voter from approaching the poll booth for the purpose of voting, or while the voter is inside the enclosed voting space when marking a ballot.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 49.88 as amended by 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 38.Related ARC(s): 3447C72121.78 Reserved.72121.79 Reserved.72121.80 Reserved.72121.81 Reserved.72121.82 Reserved.72121.83 Reserved.72121.84 Reserved.72121.85 Reserved.72121.86 Reserved.72121.87 Reserved.72121.88 Reserved.72121.89 Reserved.72121.90 Reserved.72121.91 Reserved.72121.92 Reserved.72121.93 Reserved.72121.94 Reserved.72121.95 Reserved.72121.96 Reserved.72121.97 Reserved.72121.98 Reserved.72121.99 Reserved.72121.100(39A) Issuance of technical infractions. 21.100(1) If the state commissioner becomes aware of an apparent technical violation of a provision of Iowa Code chapters 39 through 53, the state commissioner may administratively provide a written notice and letter of instruction to the commissioner or other responsible person regarding proper compliance procedures. 21.100(2) If a commissioner becomes aware of an apparent technical violation of a provision of Iowa Code chapters 39 through 53, the commissioner shall notify the state commissioner in writing for review pursuant to rule 721—21.102(49). The commissioner shall administratively provide a written notice and letter of instruction to the responsible person regarding proper compliance procedures only if the commissioner has direct supervisory authority over the responsible person. 21.100(3) If the state commissioner sends a notice of such a technical infraction to a commissioner, the state commissioner may require a written explanation of the occurrence and the measures that the person took to redress the issues contained within the notice. 21.100(4) Upon the issuance of a technical infraction to a commissioner, the state commissioner shall also impose a fine not to exceed $10,000 to be deposited in the general fund. The state commissioner shall impose the fine based on the totality of the circumstances regarding the apparent technical violation of Iowa Code chapters 39 through 53. A commissioner’s party affiliation shall not be considered when determining the amount of a fine. The state commissioner may consider the number of technical infractions previously issued to a commissioner when determining the amount of a fine. The state commissioner shall provide an explanation of the amount of the fine in the written notice and letter of instruction. a. The commissioner shall pay a fine issued pursuant to Iowa Code section 39A.6, in full or file an appeal pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 17A within 60 days. The appeals process shall be the same process outlined in 721—Chapter 3. b. A commissioner who fails to pay a fine in full that was not dismissed pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 17A shall be suspended from office for a period not to exceed two years pursuant to Iowa Code sections 66.7 and 66.8. c. If a commissioner is suspended pursuant to Iowa Code section 39A.6, the state commissioner shall direct the deputy of the county commissioner to oversee the functions of the office until the suspension is revoked or the office is vacated and a successor is elected. The state commissioner may direct the state commissioner’s staff to assist in the performance of the duties of a suspended commissioner. 21.100(5) Upon issuing a technical infraction, the state commissioner shall immediately inform the attorney general and relevant county attorney if the apparent violation constitutes or may constitute election misconduct under this chapter.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 39A.6.Related ARC(s): 6063C72121.101(47) State commissioner’s review of complaints. Upon receiving credible information that a commissioner may have violated a provision in Iowa Code chapters 39 through 52, the state commissioner shall require the commissioner to provide more information, or certification that the commissioner complied with the relevant law. The determination of credibility is solely at the discretion of the state commissioner. The state commissioner may require a complaining party to provide more information. The state commissioner may reject anonymous complaints without any additional inquiry. If it appears that the complaint originated from the commissioner’s office, the state commissioner shall consult with the attorney general before proceeding.If the state commissioner determines that a commissioner has not sufficiently responded to the inquiry, the state commissioner may issue a notice of infraction pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 39A, or refer the matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency, or both.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 47.1 as amended by 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 41.Related ARC(s): 3447C72121.102(49) Commissioner’s filings and notifications to state commissioner. 21.102(1) The commissioner shall certify to the state commissioner that all relevant election laws and requirements were followed as required by Iowa law. A form for the certification shall be published to the state commissioner’s website, pursuant to 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 41. 21.102(2) The commissioner shall report each suspected incidence of election misconduct to the state commissioner regardless of proximity to any election, pursuant to 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 41(4). The commissioner shall provide to the state commissioner all updates as they are received by the commissioner from law enforcement.This rule is intended to implement 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 41.Related ARC(s): 3447C72121.103(39A) Election misconduct—investigation. 21.103(1) The attorney general or county attorney shall investigate allegations of election misconduct reported to the attorney general or county attorney. Election misconduct by an election official shall also be investigated for prosecution under Iowa Code chapter 721. 21.103(2) Upon the completion of an investigation required by Iowa Code section 39A.7, the attorney general or county attorney shall submit the results of the investigation to the state commissioner in writing and explain whether the attorney general or county attorney will pursue charges. If the attorney general or county attorney will pursue charges, the attorney general or county attorney shall report the result of the final disposition of the case to the state commissioner.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 39A.7.Related ARC(s): 6063C72121.104 Reserved.72121.105 Reserved.72121.106 Reserved.72121.107 Reserved.72121.108 Reserved.72121.109 Reserved.72121.110 Reserved.72121.111 Reserved.72121.112 Reserved.72121.113 Reserved.72121.114 Reserved.72121.115 Reserved.72121.116 Reserved.72121.117 Reserved.72121.118 Reserved.72121.119 Reserved.72121.120 Reserved.72121.121 Reserved.72121.122 Reserved.72121.123 Reserved.72121.124 Reserved.72121.125 Reserved.72121.126 Reserved.72121.127 Reserved.72121.128 Reserved.72121.129 Reserved.72121.130 Reserved.72121.131 Reserved.72121.132 Reserved.72121.133 Reserved.72121.134 Reserved.72121.135 Reserved.72121.136 Reserved.72121.137 Reserved.72121.138 Reserved.72121.139 Reserved.72121.140 Reserved.72121.141 Reserved.72121.142 Reserved.72121.143 Reserved.72121.144 Reserved.72121.145 Reserved.72121.146 Reserved.72121.147 Reserved.72121.148 Reserved.72121.149 Reserved.72121.150 Reserved.72121.151 Reserved.72121.152 Reserved.72121.153 Reserved.72121.154 Reserved.72121.155 Reserved.72121.156 Reserved.72121.157 Reserved.72121.158 Reserved.72121.159 Reserved.72121.160 Reserved.72121.161 Reserved.72121.162 Reserved.72121.163 Reserved.72121.164 Reserved.72121.165 Reserved.72121.166 Reserved.72121.167 Reserved.72121.168 Reserved.72121.169 Reserved.72121.170 Reserved.72121.171 Reserved.72121.172 Reserved.72121.173 Reserved.72121.174 Reserved.72121.175 Reserved.72121.176 Reserved.72121.177 Reserved.72121.178 Reserved.72121.179 Reserved.72121.180 Reserved.72121.181 Reserved.72121.182 Reserved.72121.183 Reserved.72121.184 Reserved.72121.185 Reserved.72121.186 Reserved.72121.187 Reserved.72121.188 Reserved.72121.189 Reserved.72121.190 Reserved.72121.191 Reserved.72121.192 Reserved.72121.193 Reserved.72121.194 Reserved.72121.195 Reserved.72121.196 Reserved.72121.197 Reserved.72121.198 Reserved.72121.199 Reserved.DIVISION IIBALLOT PREPARATION72121.200(49) Constitutional amendments and public measures. 21.200(1) The order of placement on the ballot for constitutional amendments and statewide public measures to be voted upon at a single election shall be determined by the state commissioner, and a number shall be assigned to each constitutional amendment or statewide public measure by the state commissioner. a. The number assigned by the state commissioner to each constitutional amendment or statewide public measure to appear on the ballot for a single election shall be printed on the ballot immediately preceding and above the words “Shall the following amendment to the Constitution (or public measure) be adopted?” or the words “Shall there be a Convention to revise the Constitution, and propose amendment or amendments to same?” b. The number assigned by the state commissioner shall be printed on the ballot at least 1/8 of an inch high in the designated place. c. Even if only one constitutional amendment or statewide public measure is to appear on a ballot to be voted upon at a single election, an identifying number shall be assigned by the state commissioner and shall be printed on the ballot in the prescribed manner. 21.200(2) The order of placement on the ballot for each local public measure to be voted upon at a single election shall be determined by the commissioner, and a letter shall be assigned to each local public measure by the commissioner. a. The letter assigned by the commissioner shall be printed on the ballot at least ⅛ of an inch high in the designated place. b. Even if only one public measure is to appear on a ballot to be voted upon at a single election, an identifying letter shall be assigned by the commissioner and shall be printed on the ballot in the prescribed manner. 21.200(3) The words describing proposed constitutional amendments and statewide public measures when they appear on the ballot shall be determined by the state commissioner. The state commissioner shall select the words describing the proposed constitutional amendments and statewide public measures in the following manner: a. Not less than 150 days prior to the election at which a proposed constitutional amendment or statewide public measure is to be voted on by the voters, the state commissioner shall prepare a proposed description to be used on the ballots in administrative rule form and shall file the proposed rules with the administrative rules coordinator for publication in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin. b. The rules shall provide that written comments regarding the proposed description will be accepted by the state commissioner for a period of time not less than 20 days after the date of publication in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin. c. The state commissioner shall review any written comments which have been timely received and make any changes deemed to be warranted in the description to be printed on the ballots.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 47.1 and 49.44.Related ARC(s): 8045B72121.201(44) Competing nominations by nonparty political organizations. 21.201(1) Nominations by convention and by petitions. If one or more nomination petitions are received from nonparty political organization candidates for an office for which the same organization has also nominated one candidate by convention, the candidate nominated by convention shall be considered the nominee of the organization. The names of the other candidates shall appear on the ballot as candidates “nominated by petition,” and those candidates shall be notified in writing not later than seven days after the close of the filing period. 21.201(2) Multiple nomination petitions. If nomination petitions are received from more than one candidate from the same nonparty political organization for the same office and the organization has not nominated a candidate for the office by convention, the name of each of these candidates shall be written on a separate piece of paper, all of which shall be as nearly uniform in size and material as possible and placed in a receptacle so that the names cannot be seen. On the next working day following the close of the nomination period, all affected candidates shall be notified of the time and place of the drawing. The candidates shall be invited to attend or to send a representative. In the presence of witnesses, the state commissioner of elections or the county commissioner, as appropriate, or a designee of the state or county commissioner, shall publicly draw one of the names; and that person shall be declared to be the nominee of the nonparty political organization. The names of the other candidates shall appear on the ballot as candidates “nominated by petition.” A copy of the written record of the result of the drawing shall be kept with the nomination petition of each affected candidate, and each candidate shall be sent a copy for the candidate’s records not later than seven days after the close of the filing period. 21.201(3) Multiple nomination certificates. If more than one nomination certificate is received for the same office from groups with the same nonparty political organization name, the name of each of these candidates shall be written on a separate piece of paper, all of which shall be as nearly uniform in size and material as possible and placed in a receptacle so that the names cannot be seen. On the next working day following the close of the nomination period, all affected candidates shall be notified of the time and place of the drawing. The candidates shall be invited to attend or to send a representative. In the presence of witnesses, the state commissioner of elections or the county commissioner, as appropriate, or a designee of the state or county commissioner, shall publicly draw one of the names; and that person shall be declared to be the nominee of the nonparty political organization. The names of the other candidates, including any candidate who filed nomination petitions, shall appear on the ballot as candidates “nominated by petition.” A copy of the written record of the result of the drawing shall be kept with the nomination certificate of each affected candidate, and each candidate shall be sent a copy for the candidate’s records not later than seven days after the close of the filing period.This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 44.17.72121.202(43, 52) Form of primary election ballot. All primary election ballots shall meet the following formatting requirements: 21.202(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. 21.202(2) Headings and lines. Rescinded IAB 9/8/10, effective 8/16/10. 21.202(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). 21.202(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. 21.202(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.” 21.202(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. 21.202(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.Related ARC(s): 8698B, 9049B, 1831C72121.203(49, 52) Form of general election ballot. All general election ballots shall meet the following formatting requirements: 21.203(1) Required information. In addition to other requirements listed in the Iowa Code, general election ballots shall also include the following information: a. The name of the election. b. The name of the county. c. Instructions for how to mark the ballot, including instructions for voting on judicial retentions and constitutional amendments or public measures. d. Ballot location of the judges’ names and any constitutional amendment(s). 21.203(2) Headings and lines. Rescinded IAB 9/8/10, effective 8/16/10. 21.203(3) Office titles, order of offices and public measures. Each office printed on the ballot shall be preceded by an office title. The order of offices and public measures listed on the general election ballot shall be as follows: a. In gubernatorial election years, the order of office titles and public measures on the general election ballot shall be listed as follows: (1) U.S. Senator (if any). (2) U.S. Representative, District ___. (3) Governor and Lt. 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. (15) Township Trustee (if any). (16) Township Clerk (if any). (17) County Public Hospital Trustee (if any). (18) Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner. (19) County Agricultural Extension Council Member. (20) Other nonpartisan offices (if any). (21) Supreme Court Justice (if any). (22) Court of Appeals Judge (if any). (23) District Court Judge (if any). (24) District Court Associate Judge (if any). (25) Associate Juvenile Judge (if any). (26) Associate Probate Judge (if any). (27) Public Measures (if any). Under the public measures heading, measures shall be listed in the following order:- Constitutional Amendment (if any).
- State Public Measure (if any).
- County Public Measure (if any).
- City Public Measure (if any).
- Constitutional Amendment (if any).
- State Public Measure (if any).
- County Public Measure (if any).
- City Public Measure (if any).
- Ballot. The ballot that corresponds to the voter’s residence, as indicated by the residential address on the absentee ballot application.
- Public measure text. The full text of any public measures that are summarized on the ballot, but not printed in full.
- Secrecy envelope. Secrecy envelope, if the ballot cannot be folded to cover all of the voting ovals, as required by Iowa Code section 53.8(1).
- Affidavit envelope. The affidavit envelope, which shall be marked with the I-Voters-assigned sequence number used to identify the absentee request in the commissioner’s records.
- Return envelope. The return envelope, which shall be addressed to the commissioner’s office and bear appropriate return postage or a postal permit guaranteeing that the commissioner will pay the return postage and which shall be marked with the I-Voters-assigned sequence number used to identify the absentee request in the commissioner’s records. All domestic return envelope flaps or backs shall also be printed or stamped with a notice in substantially the following form: “This ballot will only be eligible for counting if it is received by the auditor’s office before the polls close on election day. Mail the ballot early to make sure it is received on time. Track the status of your absentee ballot at www.sos.iowa.gov.”
- Delivery envelope. The delivery envelope, which shall be addressed to the voter and bear the I-Voters-assigned sequence number used to identify the absentee request in the commissioner’s records. All other materials shall be enclosed in the delivery envelope.
- Instructions. Absentee voting instructions, which shall be in the form required by rule 721—22.250(52).
- Receipt. The receipt form required by Iowa Code section 53.3, which may be printed on the instructions required by numbered paragraph “7” above.
"Armed forces," as used in this rule, is defined in Iowa Code section 53.37(3).
"FPCA" means the federal postcard absentee ballot application and voter registration form authorized for use in Iowa by Iowa Code section 53.38.
"UOCAVA voter" means any person who is entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and Iowa Code chapter 53, division II, “Absent Voting by Armed Forces.”
21.320(2) Requests for absentee ballots. All requests for absentee ballots shall be made in writing. Additional requirements for requesting absentee ballots and for processing the requests are set forth below. a. Forms. UOCAVA voters may use the following official forms to request absentee ballots: (1) A federal postcard absentee ballot application and voter registration form (FPCA). (2) A state of Iowa official absentee ballot request form. (3) For general elections only, a proxy absentee ballot application prescribed by the state commissioner of elections and submitted pursuant to Iowa Code Supplement section 53.40(1)“b.” b. Form not required. UOCAVA voters may request absentee ballots in writing without using an official form. The written request shall be honored if it includes all of the following information about the voter: (1) Name. (2) Age or date of birth. (3) Iowa residence, including street address (if any) and city. (4) Address to which the ballot shall be sent. (5) Township of residence, if applicable. (6) County of residence. (7) Party affiliation, if the request is for a ballot for a primary election. (8) Signature of voter. (9) Statement explaining why the voter is eligible to receive ballots under the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 53, division II. For example, “I am a U.S. citizen living in France.” c. Methods for transmitting absentee ballot requests. UOCAVA voters may transmit absentee ballot requests by any of the following methods: (1) Mail. (2) Personal delivery by the voter or a person designated by the voter. (3) Facsimile machine. (4) Scanned application form or letter transmitted by email. Requests by email that do not include an image of the voter’s written signature as defined by Iowa Code section 39.3, subsection 17, shall not be accepted. d. Original request not needed. If the request is sent by email or by fax, it is not necessary for the UOCAVA voter to send to the commissioner the original copy of the FPCA or other official form or written request for an absentee ballot. e. Multiple requests from the same person. Before the ballot is ready to mail, if the commissioner receives more than one request for an absentee ballot for a particular election (or series of elections) by or on behalf of a UOCAVA voter, the last request received shall be the one honored. However, if one of the requests is for a general election ballot and is made using the proxy absentee ballot application process permitted by Iowa Code Supplement section 53.40(1)“b,” the request received from the voter shall be the one honored, not the proxy request. f. Subsequent request after ballot has been sent. Not more than one ballot shall be transmitted by the commissioner to any UOCAVA voter for a particular election unless, after the ballot has been mailed or transmitted electronically pursuant to rule 721—21.320(53), the voter reports a change in the address, email address or fax number to which the ballot should be sent. The commissioner shall void the original absentee ballot request and include a comment in the voter’s registration record, noting the I-Voters-sequence number of the original ballot and noting that a replacement ballot was sent to an updated address. If the original ballot is returned voted, it shall be counted only if the replacement ballot does not arrive before the deadline for receiving absentee ballots set forth in Iowa Code section 53.17. g. Requests for absentee ballots through the end of the calendar year. Iowa Code section 53.40 permits UOCAVA voters to request the commissioner to send absentee ballots for all elections as permitted by state law. In response to an absentee ballot request in which the UOCAVA voter requests ballots for all elections, the commissioner shall send the applicant a ballot for each election held after the request is received through the end of the calendar year in which the request is received. If the applicant does not request ballots for all elections or does not specify which elections the request is for, the commissioner shall send the applicant a ballot only for federal elections through the end of the calendar year in which the request is received. (1) When an absentee ballot for a UOCAVA voter is returned as undeliverable by the United States Postal Service or an email server or a fax cannot be transmitted to the number provided by the voter, the commissioner shall do the following:- Verify that the commissioner’s office sent the absentee ballot to the address, email address or fax number requested by the UOCAVA voter. If the absentee ballot was sent incorrectly, the commissioner shall correct the error and immediately transmit a new absentee ballot.
- If the absentee ballot was sent to the correct mailing address, email address or fax number, the commissioner shall email the voter if the commissioner has an email address on file to inform the voter that the voter’s ballot was returned undeliverable, and the commissioner must be provided with a new FPCA containing a new mailing address if the voter wishes to continue to receive absentee ballots.
- If the absentee ballot was sent to the correct mailing address, email address or fax number, the commissioner shall also attempt to contact the voter by sending a forwardable notice to both the voter’s residential address and the voter’s absentee mailing address informing the voter that the voter’s ballot was returned undeliverable, and the commissioner must be provided with a new FPCA containing a new mailing address, email address or fax number if the voter wishes to continue to receive absentee ballots.
- If the absentee ballot was mailed, emailed or sent to the correct address or fax number, the commissioner shall terminate the voter’s current FPCA request and shall not send the voter any further ballots unless a new absentee ballot request is received from the voter.
- Nomination procedures under Iowa Code section 376.3 are used. (This includes cities with primary or runoff election provisions. It does not include cities with nominations under Iowa Code chapter 44 or 45.)
- Some or all council members are voted upon by the electors of wards, rather than by the electors of the entire city.
- Ward boundaries have been changed since the last regular city election at which the ward seat was on the ballot.
- The number of wards has not changed.