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Iowa Regulations § 721-22.263 AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal (VAT)

⤴ Up to Chapter 22: Voting Systems and Electronic Poll Books

Regulation Text

(1) Acceptance testing. Upon receipt of the equipment from the vendor, the commissioner shall subject each AutoMARK VAT to an acceptance test. The test shall be in addition to any testing provided by the vendor and shall include a demonstration of all functionalities of the device.
(2) Audio ballot preparation. Each candidate shall have the opportunity to provide a record of the proper pronunciation of the candidate's name. The same voice shall be used for recording the entire ballot including instructions, office titles, candidate names and the full text of all public measures.
(3) Preelection testing. Each AutoMARK VAT shall be tested before each election in which it will be used. The commissioner may use the AutoMARK VAT to prepare some ballots for test decks required by rule 721-22.42(52). In addition, the commissioner shall:
a. Perform the test ballot print, then review the ballot to be sure that all ovals are darkened and the appropriate names are printed on each line.
b. Calibrate the touchscreen.
c. Select, then deselect each voting position in each race.
d. Verify that the overvote and undervote functions are programmed correctly.
e. Test the write-in function for each office on one ballot, and test all of the letters in the alphabet.
f. Use the audio ballot function to mark one ballot.
g. Tabulate the marked ballots from this test on the appropriate optical scanner.
h. Ensure that the AutoMARK VAT is available for demonstration at public tests.
(4) Compact flash memory cartridge or memory card. The compact flash memory cartridge shall be installed before the AutoMARK VAT is locked, sealed and shipped to the polling place for election day. In addition to locking the memory cartridge access door, the commissioner shall seal the door with a numbered seal, record the seal number, and provide the number to the precinct election officials as required by rule 721-22.51(52). From the time the AutoMARK VAT is delivered to the polling place until the time the precinct election officials arrive, the AutoMARK VAT shall be stored securely to prevent tampering. On election day, the precinct election officials shall inspect the seal and verify that the original numbered seal is present and undamaged.
(5) Calibration testing. The commissioner may provide for printer and touchscreen calibration testing after delivery of the AutoMARK VAT to the polling place. If calibration testing is performed at the polling place, the delivery staff shall complete the testing before the polls open on election day and shall keep a log for each AutoMARK VAT and record the machine serial number, the precinct name or number, the date and time of the test, the name of the person performing the test, and the lifetime printer counter number at the completion of the test. The ballot to be used in the calibration test shall be provided to the tester and shall be labeled with the precinct name and election date. The completed calibration test ballot shall be returned to the commissioner and kept with the election records.
(6) AutoMARK VAT keys. Possession of the AutoMARK VAT keys shall be restricted to precinct election officials and authorized members of the commissioner's staff.
(7) Table. The table used to support the AutoMARK VAT shall meet the following requirements: The table shall be sturdy enough to hold the 40-pound AutoMARK VAT safely. Clearance shall be at least 27 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 26 inches deep. The top of the table shall be from 28 inches to 34 inches above the floor.
(8) Privacy. The commissioner may provide each AutoMARK VAT with a privacy shield to protect the secrecy of each voter's ballot. The commissioner shall instruct the precinct election officials to position the AutoMARK VAT to provide maximum access for voters (especially voters who use wheelchairs) as well as privacy.
(9) Abandoned ballots. If a voter or precinct election official discovers that a voter has left the AutoMARK VAT without printing the voter's ballot, the two precinct election officials designated to assist voters shall print the ballot without reviewing the ballot or making any changes, enclose the ballot in a secrecy folder, and immediately deposit the ballot in the tabulating device.

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