§ Iowa Code § 50.12Return and preservation of ballots

50.12 Return and preservation of ballots.
Immediately after making the proclamation, and before separating, the board members of
each precinct in which votes have been received by paper ballot shall enclose in an envelope or
other container all ballots which have been counted by them, except those endorsed “Rejected
as double”, “Defective”, or “Objected to”, and securely seal the envelope. The signatures of all
board members of the precinct shall be placed across the seal or the opening of the container
so that it cannot be opened without breaking the seal. The precinct election officials shall
return all the ballots to the commissioner, who shall carefully preserve them for twenty-two
months. The sealed packages containing voted ballots shall be opened only for an official
recount authorized by section 50.48, 50.49, or 50.50, for an election contest held pursuant
to chapters 57 through 62, to conduct an audit pursuant to section 50.51, or to destroy the
ballots pursuant to section 50.19.
§42; 2025 Acts, ch 123, §12
Section amended