44.3.2904 : PHYSICAL SECURITY - Administrative Rules of the State of Montana

44.3.2904 PHYSICAL SECURITY

(1) Any type of component that is used within a voting system as defined in 13-1-101, MCA, shall be physically secured using tamperproof seals and access control to prevent unauthorized tampering or use.

(2) County election administrators shall maintain an inventory and a chain of custody for any type of component that is used within a voting system as defined in 13-1-101, MCA, and any keys, cards, fobs, or other controls used to access election-related equipment or storage locations.

(a) County election administrators shall document chains of custody on forms prescribed by the Secretary of State and located on the Secretary of State website.

(b) The chain of custody shall be documented every time there is a change in custody of the items or a removal of a tamperproof seal.

(3) For each election, county election administrators shall perform a reconciliation comparing the number of ballots printed to the number of issued, voided, or unissued ballots.

(a) Ballot reconciliations shall be completed prior to the start of the county canvass.

(b) Ballot reconciliations shall be maintained according to applicable federal or local government records retention schedules.

(4) Based on security best practices, it is recommended that the room or other areas where ballots are opened, processed, tabulated, or hand-counted be surveilled during the time that such activities are performed.

(a) Surveillance devices should be positioned to view and record all activities related to opening, processing, and tabulating or hand-counting ballots except that the devices must be positioned so that ballot secrecy is maintained.

(b) The storage of surveillance device footage shall be maintained according to applicable federal or local government records retention schedules.

History: 13-1-205, MCA; IMP, 13-1-205, MCA; NEW, 2022 MAR p. 1089, Eff. 6/25/22; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 285, Eff. 2/10/24.