When a jury is sworn, the ballots containing the names of those absent or excused from the trial shall be immediately returned to the box. Those containing the names of jurors sworn shall be set aside, and returned to the box immediately on the discharge of that jury.
Rule 1.918.Returning ballots to box
Division IX: Trial and Judgment · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.918 requires the clerk to return excused jurors' ballots to the jury box right after swearing in, and sworn jurors' ballots back to the box once that jury is discharged.
Full Text of Rule 1.918
Plain-English Summary
Iowa's jury-selection process uses a ballot box, and Rule 1.918 keeps that box accurate as jurors are picked and released. The moment a jury is sworn, the ballots for anyone absent or excused from the trial go straight back into the box, so they remain available for the next case's selection process.
The ballots for the jurors who were sworn are set aside instead of returned right away — those jurors are now committed to this trial. Only once that jury is discharged do their ballots go back into the box, freeing those names for future jury duty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to a juror's ballot if they are excused before the jury is sworn?
Rule 1.918 requires that ballots for jurors absent or excused from the trial be returned to the box immediately once the jury is sworn.
When does a sworn juror's ballot go back into the jury box?
Not until that jury is discharged. Rule 1.918 requires the ballots of sworn jurors to be set aside during the trial and returned to the box only upon the jury's discharge.
Why does the rule separate excused jurors' ballots from sworn jurors' ballots?
The separation keeps the pool available for other cases: excused jurors' names go back into circulation right away, while sworn jurors are held out of the pool until their service on this case ends.
Does this rule cover how jurors are questioned or selected?
No. Rule 1.918 addresses only the bookkeeping step of returning ballots to the box; it does not govern voir dire or the standards for excusing a prospective juror.
Who is responsible for handling the ballots under this rule?
The rule describes the ballots being returned to the box without naming a specific court officer, reflecting the clerk's customary role in managing the jury-selection ballot box.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are
reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
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