Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 721 - Secretary of State › Division II - Elections › Chapter 26 - Counting Votes › Rule 721-26.18 - Acceptable Marks

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
If the voter uses or places marks on the ballot in a
				  consistent manner as described in subrule 26.16(2), the marks shall be counted
				  as votes. The following marks shall count as votes:
1. The prescribed mark as shown in the voting
				instructions as the correct manner of marking a vote.
2. A mark that is a close approximation of
				the prescribed mark but that strays outside the voting target or does not
				completely fill the voting target. (See Example A of this rule.)
3. Any mark inside the voting target if the
				mark is consistently used instead of the prescribed mark. This includes a
				cross, check mark, asterisk, plus sign, diagonal, horizontal, or vertical line
				or any mark that is substantially contained within the voting target. (See
				Example B of this rule.)
4. Any
				mark of the type described in "3" above that is near the name of a candidate or
				voting target. (See Examples C and D of this rule.)
5. A circle around the voting target for all
				choices. (See Example E of this rule.)
6. A circle around or a line drawn under the
				name of the candidate for all choices. (See Example F of this rule.)
7. Names of candidates not crossed out, if
				the voter has crossed out the names of all candidates except the number (or
				fewer) to be elected for each office. (See Example G of this rule.)
Example A: Close approximations. The voter has consistently
				  marked the ballot by scribbling in the voting targets. The marks do not
				  completely blacken the voting target and one mark strays outside the voting
				  target.
For Board of Supervisors
(Vote for no more than two.)
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				  to view Image
This example shows a vote for CANDIDATE 3 and a vote for
				  CANDIDATE 4. The same principle applies for other voting marks. If the mark
				  used is a close approximation of the prescribed mark, it shall be counted as a
				  vote provided that all other applicable standards are met.
Example B: Acceptable mark in the voting target. The voter
				  has consistently marked each choice by putting a check mark in the voting
				  target.
For Board of Supervisors
(Vote for no more than two.)
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				  to view Image
This example shows a vote for CANDIDATE 3 and a vote for the
				  write-in choice, Martha Stone.
Example C: Acceptable mark placed near the voting target. The
				  voter has consistently marked each choice by putting a check mark in the space
				  between the voting target and the candidate's name.
For Board of Supervisors
(Vote for no more than two.)
Click here
				  to view Image
This example shows a vote for CANDIDATE 2 and a vote for
				  CANDIDATE 3.
Example D: Acceptable mark placed near a candidate's name.
				  The voter has consistently marked each choice by putting a check mark behind
				  the candidate's name.
For Board of Supervisors
(Vote for no more than two.)
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				  to view Image
This example shows a vote for CANDIDATE 1 and a vote for
				  CANDIDATE 4.
Example E: Choices circled. The voter has consistently marked
				  each choice by circling the voting target.
For Board of Supervisors
(Vote for no more than two.)
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				  to view Image
This example shows a vote for CANDIDATE 1 and a vote for
				  CANDIDATE 4.
Example F: Choices underlined. The voter has consistently
				  marked each choice by underlining the name of the candidate.
For Board of Supervisors
(Vote for no more than two.)
Click here
				  to view Image
This example shows a vote for CANDIDATE 1 and a vote for
				  CANDIDATE 4.
Example G: Choices not crossed out. The voter has
				  consistently marked each choice by crossing out the names of candidates not
				  chosen.
For Board of Supervisors
(Vote for no more than two.)
Click here
				  to view Image
This example shows a vote for CANDIDATE 1 and a vote for
				  CANDIDATE 4.