retention period

length of time a record must be kept to meet administrative, fiscal, legal, or historical requirements

The rime period for particular records (normally a series) to be kept.

The period of time during which records are kept in the custody of the creating agency (including Records Center storage) before disposition occurs; usually in terms of years or contingent upon an event, such as an audit.

Generally speaking, the precinct election records must be preserved by the authority to whom they are distributed: (1) in an election involving a federal office, for at least 22 months after election day in accordance with federal law; or (2) in an election not involving a federal office, for at least six months after election day. Some records, including the local election register, are kept permanently.