Section 49.68. State commissioner to furnish instructions.

  1.  The state commissioner with the approval of the attorney general shall prepare, and from time to time revise, written instructions to the voters relative to the rights of voters, and shall furnish each commissioner with copies of the instructions. Such instructions shall cover the following matters:

  a.  The procedure for registering to vote after the registration deadline has passed.

  b.  Instructions for voters who are required by law to show identification before voting.

  c.  General information on voting rights under applicable federal and state laws, including the following:

  (1)  Information on the right of an individual to cast a provisional ballot and the procedure for casting a provisional ballot.

  (2)  Federal and state laws regarding prohibitions on acts of fraud, misrepresentation, coercion, or duress.

  d.  Instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials if a voter believes the voter’s rights have been violated.

  2.  The state commissioner shall prepare instructions relative to voting for each voting system in use in the state and shall furnish the county commissioner with copies of the instructions. Such instructions shall cover the following matters:

  a.  The manner of obtaining ballots.

  b.  The manner of marking ballots.

  c.  That unmarked or improperly marked ballots will not be counted.

  d.  The method of gaining assistance in marking ballots.

  e.  That any erasures or identification marks, or otherwise spoiling or defacing a ballot, will render it invalid.

  f.  Not to vote a spoiled or defaced ballot.

  g.  How to obtain a new ballot in place of a spoiled or defaced one.

  h.  Any other matters thought necessary.

[C97, §1111; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §786, 787; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §49.68, 49.69; C75, 77, 79, 81, §49.68;

81 Acts, ch 34, §29

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2008 Acts, ch 1115, §94