§ Iowa Code § 49.26Commissioner to decide method of voting — counting of ballots

49.26 Commissioner to decide method of voting — counting of ballots.
1. In all elections regulated by this chapter, the voting shall be by paper ballots printed and
distributed as provided by law, or by voting systems meeting the requirements of chapter 52.
2. a. The commissioner shall determine in advance of each election conducted for a
city of three thousand five hundred or less population or for any school district whether
the ballots will be counted by automatic tabulating equipment or by the precinct election
officials. In making such a determination, the commissioner shall consider voter turnout
Tue Dec 09 22:31:06 2025
Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 49 (55, 2)
§49.26, METHOD OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS
16
for recent similar elections and factors considered likely to affect voter turnout for the
forthcoming election.
b. If the commissioner concludes, pursuant to paragraph “a”, that voting will probably be
so light as to make counting of ballots by the precinct election officials less expensive than
preparation and use of automatic tabulating equipment, paper ballots may be used, subject to
paragraph “c”. If paper ballots are used, the commissioner shall use ballots and instructions
similar to those used when the ballots are counted by automatic tabulating equipment.
c. Notwithstanding a determination by the commissioner pursuant to paragraph “b”, upon
receipt of a petition signed by not less than one hundred eligible electors, the commissioner
shall count the ballots at an election described in paragraph “a” using automatic tabulating
equipment. A petition filed under this paragraph must be received by the commissioner not
later than 5:00 p.m. on the forty-second day before the election.
§10 – 12