Some years back, a Mount Vernon voting precinct official was challenged by a voter. He had inserted his ballot into the ballot tabulating machine and then said “OK, now show me how I voted.” The poll worker invited him to step out of the path of the voters and explained that his ballot was a secret ballot, and he wouldn’t want others to know how he voted. His choices are tallied and counted with all other ballots in that machine, the counter is advanced, and it is ready for the next ballot.

Remembering this experience of caution and concern, let’s focus on your ballot. What happens before the election, during and after to protect it in Iowa. A few weeks before election day, the voting machine is tested, sealed and kept secure. It is unsealed by the precinct chairperson after 6 a.m. on election day and made ready to accept the day’s ballots. A second precinct official witnesses this step as a backup check.

Once the voting machine is set up, a zero-tape is run to open the polls. The paper tape prints and shows all the contests with a zero number of votes. All precinct officials sign this tape, verifying that it was checked and is official.

Next, the paper ballots are carefully counted. Is it the correct form of the ballot for our precinct? Does the ballot count agree with the number stated by Linn County elections on the Ballot Record and receipt?

For the next 13 hours, voters mark their ballots, insert them in the voting machine to be tallied, and then the paper ballots drop down to be securely stored in the bottom of that machine. After the polls close at 8 p.m., all ballots are accounted for: the number voted, the number of unused ballots, and the spoiled or unprovisional ballots. These are reported n the ballot record and receipt and must equal the number originally received. All precinct officials watch as the end-of-day results tape is run, showing totals for each race. Copies are printed and signed by all precinct officials. The media and others from the public may observe this step.

In Linn County, the voting machines are not connected to each other or any external device of communication. He accuracy of results is assured through several layers of checks and balances. The digital record from the machine and identical reports from the day’s vote tallies are delivered to the auditor’s office by a bipartisan team.

A second results tape, the voted and spoiled ballots, provisional ballots and the Ballot Record and Receipt are driven in separately to the Elections Office. These checks and double checks are important to election integrity.

The canvass of votes a week after the election is the verification step that the reports agree are accurate. Following the canvass of votes, candidates have three calendar days to request a recount. If no recount is needed, the ballots will remain in sealed bags in a secure storage facility for the next 22 months.

That’s the story of your ballot and the path it takes to make sure your vote is accurately counted.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. Be a confident, informed voter.