If the commissioner is using return carrier envelopes that are not marked with voters' affidavits, the commissioner may direct a staff member to open the return carrier envelopes either manually or with an automatic letter opener, if one is available. Only a trained reviewer may remove the contents of the return carrier envelope. The return carrier envelopes opened and emptied pursuant to this rule shall be stored for 22 months for federal elections and 6 months for local elections in a manner that will facilitate retrieval, if necessary.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 721-21.353