In elections for federal office, election must preserve for 22 months "all ADMINISTRATORS records and paper that came into [their] possession relating to an application, registration, payment of poll tax, or other act requisite to voting." 42 U.S.C. §1974. In most states, ballots must be retained for a specified period of time after an election so that irregularities can be investigated and recounts conducted. "The sheriff shall keep the ballots six months, and then the packages shall be taken out of the box, without opening or unsealing the packages, and destroyed unless within six months the sheriff having them in custody is notified that the election of some officer for which the election was held will be contested, in which case he must preserve the box containing the ballots cast for such contestant until such contest is finally determined or until such box is demanded by some legally constituted custodian during such contest." Ala. Code §17-3-5.
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In elections for federal office, election must preserve for 22 months "all ADMINISTRATORS records and paper that came into [their] possession relating to an application, registration, payment of poll tax, or other act requisite to voting." 42 U.S.C. §1974. In most states, ballots must be retained for a specified period of time after an election so that irregularities can be investigated and recounts conducted. "The sheriff shall keep the ballots six months, and then the packages shall be taken out of the box, without opening or unsealing the packages, and destroyed unless within six months the sheriff having them in custody is notified that the election of some officer for which the election was held will be contested, in which case he must preserve the box containing the ballots cast for such contestant until such contest is finally determined or until such box is demanded by some legally constituted custodian during such contest." Ala. Code §17-3-5.
Cite this term
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Retention. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/retention
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