Bill Text: IA HSB281 | 2025-2026 | 91st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2025-03-05 - Subcommittee recommends passage. [HSB281 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2025-HSB281-Introduced.html
House
Study
Bill
281
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
STATE
GOVERNMENT
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
BLOOMINGDALE)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
the
conduct
of
elections,
and
including
1
effective
date
and
retroactive
applicability
provisions.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
TLSB
2455YC
(6)
91
ss/ns
H.F.
_____
DIVISION
I
1
CANDIDATE
ELIGIBILITY
OBJECTIONS
2
Section
1.
Section
43.18,
subsection
9,
Code
2025,
is
3
amended
to
read
as
follows:
4
9.
A
For
a
candidate
for
an
office
other
than
a
federal
5
office,
a
statement
that
the
candidate
is
aware
that
the
6
candidate
is
disqualified
from
holding
office
if
the
candidate
7
has
been
convicted
of
a
felony
or
other
infamous
crime
and
the
8
candidate’s
rights
have
not
been
restored
by
the
governor
or
by
9
the
president
of
the
United
States.
10
Sec.
2.
Section
43.24,
subsection
1,
Code
2025,
is
amended
11
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
12
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
c.
Objections
to
the
eligibility
of
a
13
candidate
for
a
federal
office
shall
not
be
sustained
unless
14
the
objection
is
limited
to
the
legal
sufficiency
of
the
15
nomination
petition
or
certificate
of
nomination,
or
to
the
16
residency,
age,
or
citizenship
requirements
as
described
in
the
17
Constitution
of
the
United
States.
18
Sec.
3.
Section
44.3,
subsection
2,
paragraph
i,
Code
2025,
19
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
20
i.
A
For
a
candidate
for
an
office
other
than
a
federal
21
office,
a
statement
that
the
candidate
is
aware
that
the
22
candidate
is
disqualified
from
holding
office
if
the
candidate
23
has
been
convicted
of
a
felony
or
other
infamous
crime
and
the
24
candidate’s
rights
have
not
been
restored
by
the
governor
or
by
25
the
president
of
the
United
States.
26
Sec.
4.
Section
44.6,
Code
2025,
is
amended
to
read
as
27
follows:
28
44.6
Hearing
before
state
commissioner.
29
Objections
filed
with
the
state
commissioner
shall
be
30
considered
by
the
secretary
of
state
and
auditor
of
state
and
31
attorney
general,
and
a
majority
decision
shall
be
final.
32
However,
if
the
objection
is
to
the
certificate
of
nomination
33
of
one
or
more
of
the
above
named
officers,
the
officer
or
34
officers
objected
to
shall
not
pass
upon
the
objection,
but
35
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_____
their
places
shall
be
filled,
respectively,
by
the
treasurer
1
of
state,
the
governor,
and
the
secretary
of
agriculture.
2
Objections
relating
to
incorrect
or
incomplete
information
3
for
information
that
is
required
under
section
44.3
shall
be
4
sustained.
Objections
to
the
eligibility
of
a
candidate
for
5
a
federal
office
shall
not
be
sustained
unless
the
objection
6
is
limited
to
the
legal
sufficiency
of
the
nomination
petition
7
or
certificate
of
nomination,
or
to
the
residency,
age,
or
8
citizenship
requirements
as
described
in
the
Constitution
of
9
the
United
States.
10
Sec.
5.
Section
45.3,
subsection
9,
Code
2025,
is
amended
11
to
read
as
follows:
12
9.
A
For
a
candidate
for
an
office
other
than
a
federal
13
office,
a
statement
that
the
candidate
is
aware
that
the
14
candidate
is
disqualified
from
holding
office
if
the
candidate
15
has
been
convicted
of
a
felony
or
other
infamous
crime
and
the
16
candidate’s
rights
have
not
been
restored
by
the
governor
or
by
17
the
president
of
the
United
States.
18
Sec.
6.
Section
54.5,
Code
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
the
19
following
new
subsection:
20
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
5.
An
objection
to
a
nomination
made
under
21
this
section
on
any
grounds
other
than
the
legal
sufficiency
22
of
the
certificate
of
nomination
shall
not
be
sustained.
The
23
certificate
of
nomination
shall
be
presumed
valid.
24
Sec.
7.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
division
of
this
Act,
being
25
deemed
of
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
26
DIVISION
II
27
RANKED
CHOICE
VOTING
28
Sec.
8.
Section
49.93,
Code
2025,
is
amended
to
read
as
29
follows:
30
49.93
Number
of
votes
for
each
office.
31
1.
For
an
office
to
which
one
person
is
to
be
elected,
a
32
voter
shall
not
vote
for
more
than
one
candidate.
If
two
or
33
more
persons
are
to
be
elected
to
an
office,
the
voter
shall
34
vote
for
no
more
than
the
number
of
persons
to
be
elected.
If
a
35
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2/
19
H.F.
_____
person
votes
for
more
than
the
permitted
number
of
candidates,
1
the
vote
for
that
office
shall
not
count.
Valid
votes
cast
on
2
the
rest
of
the
ballot
shall
be
counted.
3
2.
a.
An
election
in
this
state
shall
not
be
conducted
4
using
ranked
choice
voting
or
instant
runoff
voting.
5
b.
For
the
purposes
of
this
section,
“ranked
choice
voting”
6
or
“instant
runoff
voting”
means
a
method
of
casting
and
7
tabulating
votes
in
which
a
voter
ranks
candidates
in
order
of
8
preference,
tabulation
of
ballots
proceeds
in
rounds
such
that
9
in
each
round
either
a
candidate
is
elected
or
the
candidate
10
receiving
the
fewest
votes
is
defeated,
votes
are
transferred
11
from
elected
or
defeated
candidates
to
a
voter’s
next-ranked
12
candidate
in
order
of
preference,
and
tabulation
ends
when
a
13
candidate
receives
the
majority
of
votes
cast
or
the
number
of
14
candidates
elected
equals
the
number
of
offices
to
be
filled,
15
as
applicable.
16
Sec.
9.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
division
of
this
Act
takes
17
effect
January
1,
2026.
18
DIVISION
III
19
PERSONS
PERMITTED
IN
VOTING
BOOTHS
20
Sec.
10.
Section
49.88,
subsection
3,
Code
2025,
is
amended
21
to
read
as
follows:
22
3.
A
person
standing
for
election
on
the
ballot
before
a
23
voter
shall
not
occupy
commits
a
violation
of
this
section
by
24
occupying
the
voting
booth
with
the
voter,
including
to
assist
25
the
voter.
26
Sec.
11.
Section
49.90,
Code
2025,
is
amended
to
read
as
27
follows:
28
49.90
Assisting
voter.
29
1.
Any
voter
who
may
declare
upon
oath
that
the
voter
is
30
blind,
cannot
read
the
English
language,
or
is,
by
reason
of
31
any
physical
disability
other
than
intoxication,
unable
to
cast
32
a
vote
without
assistance,
shall,
upon
request,
be
assisted
by
33
the
two
officers
as
provided
in
section
49.89
,
or
alternatively
34
by
any
other
person
the
voter
may
select
in
casting
the
vote,
35
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3/
19
H.F.
_____
except
that
the
voter
shall
not
select
a
person
standing
for
1
election
on
the
ballot.
The
officers,
or
the
person
selected
2
by
the
voter,
shall
cast
the
vote
of
the
voter
requiring
3
assistance,
and
shall
thereafter
give
no
information
regarding
4
the
vote
cast.
If
any
elector
because
of
a
disability
cannot
5
enter
the
building
where
the
polling
place
for
the
elector’s
6
precinct
of
residence
is
located,
the
two
officers
shall
take
7
a
paper
ballot
to
the
vehicle
occupied
by
the
elector
with
8
a
disability
and
allow
the
elector
to
cast
the
ballot
in
9
the
vehicle.
Ballots
cast
by
voters
with
disabilities
shall
10
be
deposited
in
the
regular
ballot
box,
or
inserted
in
the
11
tabulating
device,
and
counted
in
the
usual
manner.
12
2.
A
person
standing
for
election
on
the
ballot
before
a
13
voter
commits
a
violation
of
section
49.88
by
occupying
the
14
voting
booth
with
the
voter.
15
Sec.
12.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
division
of
this
Act
takes
16
effect
January
1,
2026.
17
DIVISION
IV
18
VOTER
REGISTRATION
DATABASE
PILOT
PROGRAM
19
Sec.
13.
NEW
SECTION
.
47.7A
Statewide
voter
registration
20
database
verification
pilot
program.
21
1.
A
statewide
voter
registration
database
verification
22
pilot
program
is
established
within
the
office
of
the
state
23
registrar
as
follows:
24
a.
The
state
registrar
shall
contract
with
a
third-party
25
vendor
to
develop
or
provide
a
program
to
allow
the
state
26
registrar
to
verify
the
status
of
records
in
the
statewide
27
voter
registration
file
and
identify
ineligible
voters
on
an
28
ongoing
basis.
29
b.
During
the
first
quarter
of
the
calendar
year
2026,
30
the
state
registrar
shall
utilize
the
program
developed
or
31
provided
by
the
third-party
vendor
to
verify
the
status
of
32
records
in
the
statewide
voter
registration
file.
The
state
33
registrar
shall
forward
the
results
of
the
analysis
to
each
34
county
commissioner
of
registration
prior
to
the
date
reports
35
-4-
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19
H.F.
_____
are
required
to
be
submitted
pursuant
to
section
48A.40.
1
c.
The
state
registrar
shall
evaluate
the
efficacy
and
2
cost
of
the
pilot
program
as
compared
to
the
current
method
3
of
verifying
the
list
of
voters
in
the
statewide
voter
4
registration
file.
5
2.
This
section
is
repealed
December
31,
2028.
6
DIVISION
V
7
COUNTY
HOSPITAL
BOARD
OF
TRUSTEES
8
Sec.
14.
Section
347.9,
subsection
3,
Code
2025,
is
amended
9
by
striking
the
subsection.
10
Sec.
15.
RETROACTIVE
APPLICABILITY.
This
division
of
11
this
Act
applies
retroactively
to
persons
elected
to
a
county
12
hospital
board
of
trustees
on
or
after
January
1,
2024.
13
DIVISION
VI
14
POLITICAL
PARTY
——
DEFINITION
15
Sec.
16.
Section
43.2,
subsection
1,
paragraph
b,
Code
2025,
16
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
17
b.
“Political
party”
shall
mean
a
party
which,
at
the
18
last
preceding
general
election,
cast
for
its
candidate
for
19
president
of
the
United
States
or
for
governor,
as
the
case
may
20
be,
at
least
two
ten
percent
of
the
total
vote
cast
for
all
21
candidates
for
that
office
at
that
election.
It
shall
be
the
22
responsibility
of
the
state
commissioner
to
determine
whether
23
any
organization
claiming
to
be
a
political
party
qualifies
as
24
such
under
this
paragraph.
25
Sec.
17.
Section
43.63,
subsection
1,
Code
2025,
is
amended
26
to
read
as
follows:
27
1.
Upon
receipt
of
the
abstracts
of
votes
from
the
counties,
28
the
secretary
of
state
shall
immediately
open
the
envelopes
29
and
canvass
the
results
for
all
offices.
The
secretary
of
30
state
shall
invite
to
attend
the
canvass
one
representative
31
from
each
political
party
which,
at
the
last
preceding
general
32
election,
cast
for
its
candidate
for
president
of
the
United
33
States
or
for
governor,
as
the
case
may
be,
at
least
two
ten
34
percent
of
the
total
vote
cast
for
all
candidates
for
that
35
-5-
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19
H.F.
_____
office
at
that
election,
as
determined
by
the
secretary
of
1
state.
The
secretary
of
state
shall
notify
the
chairperson
2
of
each
political
party
of
the
time
of
the
canvass.
However,
3
the
presence
of
a
representative
from
a
political
party
is
not
4
necessary
for
the
canvass
to
proceed.
5
Sec.
18.
Section
50.36,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
6
to
read
as
follows:
7
2.
The
secretary
of
state
shall
invite
to
attend
the
canvass
8
one
representative
from
each
political
party
which,
at
the
9
last
preceding
general
election,
cast
for
its
candidate
for
10
president
of
the
United
States
or
for
governor,
as
the
case
may
11
be,
at
least
two
ten
percent
of
the
total
vote
cast
for
all
12
candidates
for
that
office
at
that
election,
as
determined
by
13
the
secretary
of
state.
The
secretary
of
state
shall
notify
14
the
chairperson
of
each
political
party
of
the
time
of
the
15
canvass.
However,
the
presence
of
a
representative
from
a
16
political
party
is
not
necessary
for
the
canvass
to
proceed.
17
Sec.
19.
Section
68B.2,
subsection
13,
paragraph
b,
18
subparagraph
(1),
Code
2025,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
19
(1)
Officials
and
employees
of
a
political
party
organized
20
in
the
state
of
Iowa
representing
more
than
two
ten
percent
of
21
the
total
votes
cast
for
governor
in
the
last
preceding
general
22
election,
but
only
when
representing
the
political
party
in
an
23
official
capacity.
24
DIVISION
VII
25
NOMINATION
FILING
DEADLINES
26
Sec.
20.
Section
44.4,
subsection
1,
Code
2025,
is
amended
27
to
read
as
follows:
28
1.
a.
Nominations
made
pursuant
to
this
chapter
and
29
chapter
45
which
are
required
to
be
filed
in
the
office
of
the
30
state
commissioner
shall
be
filed
in
that
office
not
more
than
31
ninety-nine
days
nor
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
eighty-first
32
day
before
the
first
Tuesday
after
the
first
Monday
in
June
33
in
each
even-numbered
year.
Nominations
made
for
a
special
34
election
called
pursuant
to
section
69.14
shall
be
filed
by
35
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19
H.F.
_____
5:00
p.m.
not
less
than
twenty-five
days
before
the
date
of
an
1
election
called
upon
at
least
forty
days’
notice
and
not
less
2
than
fourteen
days
before
the
date
of
an
election
called
upon
3
at
least
eighteen
days’
notice.
Nominations
made
for
a
special
4
election
called
pursuant
to
section
69.14A
shall
be
filed
by
5
5:00
p.m.
not
less
than
twenty-five
days
before
the
date
of
6
the
election.
Nominations
made
pursuant
to
this
chapter
and
7
chapter
45
which
are
required
to
be
filed
in
the
office
of
8
the
commissioner
shall
be
filed
in
that
office
not
more
than
9
ninety-two
days
nor
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
seventy-fourth
10
day
before
the
first
Tuesday
after
the
first
Monday
in
June
11
in
each
even-numbered
year.
Nominations
made
pursuant
to
12
this
chapter
or
chapter
45
for
city
office
shall
be
filed
not
13
more
than
seventy-two
days
nor
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
14
forty-seventh
day
before
the
city
election
with
the
county
15
commissioner
of
elections
responsible
under
section
47.2
for
16
conducting
elections
held
for
the
city,
who
shall
process
them
17
as
provided
by
law.
18
b.
Notwithstanding
paragraph
“a”
,
nominations
for
president
19
and
vice
president
of
the
United
States
shall
be
filed
in
the
20
office
of
the
state
commissioner
not
more
than
ninety-nine
days
21
nor
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
eighty-first
day
before
the
22
date
of
the
general
election
to
be
held
in
November.
23
Sec.
21.
Section
44.4,
subsection
2,
paragraph
a,
24
subparagraphs
(1)
and
(2),
Code
2025,
are
amended
to
read
as
25
follows:
26
(1)
Those
filed
with
the
state
commissioner,
not
less
later
27
than
seventy-four
seven
days
before
after
the
first
Tuesday
28
after
the
first
Monday
in
June
in
each
even-numbered
year
,
29
or
for
certificates
of
nomination
filed
under
subsection
1
,
30
paragraph
“b”
,
not
less
than
seventy-four
days
before
the
date
31
of
the
election
.
32
(2)
Those
filed
with
the
commissioner,
not
less
later
than
33
sixty-seven
seven
days
before
after
the
first
Tuesday
after
34
the
first
Monday
in
June
in
each
even-numbered
year,
except
as
35
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provided
in
subparagraph
(3).
1
Sec.
22.
Section
44.9,
subsection
1,
Code
2025,
is
amended
2
to
read
as
follows:
3
1.
In
the
office
of
the
state
commissioner,
at
least
4
eighty-one
days
before
the
date
of
the
election
,
or
for
5
withdrawals
of
nominations
filed
under
section
44.4,
subsection
6
1
,
paragraph
“b”
,
at
least
seventy-six
days
before
the
date
of
7
election
.
8
Sec.
23.
Section
44.11,
Code
2025,
is
amended
to
read
as
9
follows:
10
44.11
Vacancies
filled.
11
If
a
candidate
named
under
this
chapter
withdraws
or
dies
12
before
the
deadline
established
in
section
44.9
,
declines
13
a
nomination,
or
if
a
certificate
of
nomination
is
held
14
insufficient
or
inoperative
by
the
officer
with
whom
it
15
is
required
to
be
filed,
or
in
case
any
objection
made
to
16
a
certificate
of
nomination,
or
to
the
eligibility
of
any
17
candidate
named
in
the
certificate,
is
sustained
by
the
board
18
appointed
to
determine
such
questions,
the
vacancy
or
vacancies
19
may
be
filled
by
the
convention,
or
caucus,
or
in
such
manner
20
as
such
convention
or
caucus
has
previously
provided.
The
21
vacancy
or
vacancies
shall
be
filled
not
less
than
seventy-six
22
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
23
to
be
filed
with
the
state
commissioner
or
not
less
than
24
seventy-one
days
for
nominations
filed
under
section
44.4,
25
subsection
1
,
paragraph
“b”
,
not
less
than
sixty-nine
days
26
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
to
27
be
filed
with
the
commissioner,
not
less
than
forty-two
days
28
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
to
be
29
filed
in
the
office
of
the
school
board
secretary,
and
not
30
less
than
forty-two
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
31
nominations
required
to
be
filed
with
the
commissioner
for
city
32
elections.
33
DIVISION
VIII
34
AFFIDAVITS
OF
CANDIDACY
35
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Sec.
24.
Section
43.18,
Code
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
the
1
following
new
subsection:
2
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
10.
A
statement
that
the
candidate
is
aware
3
that
by
filing
this
affidavit,
the
candidate
is
ineligible
to
4
appear
on
the
same
ballot
for
the
same
office
other
than
as
a
5
candidate
for
the
political
party
indicated
on
the
affidavit.
6
Sec.
25.
Section
43.67,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
7
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
8
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
j.
A
statement
that
the
candidate
is
aware
9
that
by
filing
this
affidavit,
the
candidate
is
ineligible
to
10
appear
on
the
same
ballot
for
the
same
office
other
than
as
a
11
candidate
for
the
political
party
indicated
on
the
affidavit.
12
Sec.
26.
Section
44.3,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
13
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
14
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
j.
A
statement
that
the
candidate
is
aware
15
that
by
filing
this
affidavit,
the
candidate
is
ineligible
to
16
appear
on
the
same
ballot
for
the
same
office
other
than
as
a
17
candidate
for
the
nonparty
political
organization
indicated
on
18
the
affidavit.
19
Sec.
27.
Section
45.3,
Code
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
the
20
following
new
subsection:
21
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
10.
A
statement
that
the
candidate
is
aware
22
that
by
filing
this
affidavit,
the
candidate
is
ineligible
to
23
appear
on
the
same
ballot
for
the
same
office
other
than
as
a
24
candidate
nominated
by
petition.
25
DIVISION
IX
26
VOTER
REGISTRATION
27
Sec.
28.
Section
47.7,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
28
to
read
as
follows:
29
2.
a.
On
or
before
January
1,
2006,
the
The
state
registrar
30
of
voters
shall
implement
in
a
uniform
and
nondiscriminatory
31
manner,
a
single,
uniform,
official,
centralized,
interactive
32
computerized
statewide
voter
registration
file
defined,
33
maintained,
and
administered
at
the
state
level
that
contains
34
the
name
and
registration
information
of
every
legally
35
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registered
voter
in
the
state
and
assigns
a
unique
identifier
1
to
each
legally
registered
voter
in
the
state.
The
state
voter
2
registration
system
shall
be
coordinated
with
other
agency
3
databases
within
the
state,
including
,
but
not
limited
to
,
4
state
department
of
transportation
driver’s
license
records,
5
judicial
records
of
convicted
felons
and
persons
declared
6
incompetent
to
vote,
and
department
of
health
and
human
7
services
records
of
deceased
persons.
8
b.
On
or
after
January
1,
2007,
a
A
county
shall
not
9
establish
or
maintain
a
voter
registration
system
separate
10
from
the
state
voter
registration
system.
Each
county
shall
11
provide
to
the
state
registrar
the
names,
voter
registration
12
information,
and
voting
history
of
each
registered
voter
in
the
13
county
in
the
form
required
by
the
state
registrar.
14
c.
A
state
or
local
election
official
may
obtain
immediate
15
electronic
access
to
the
information
contained
in
the
16
computerized
voter
registration
file.
All
voter
registration
17
information
obtained
by
a
local
election
official
shall
be
18
electronically
entered
into
the
computerized
voter
registration
19
file
on
an
expedited
basis
at
the
time
the
information
is
20
provided
to
the
local
election
official.
The
state
registrar
21
shall
provide
such
support
as
may
be
required
to
enable
local
22
election
officials
to
electronically
enter
the
information
into
23
the
computerized
voter
registration
file
on
an
expedited
basis.
24
The
list
generated
from
the
computerized
file
shall
serve
as
25
the
official
voter
registration
list
for
the
conduct
of
all
26
elections
for
federal
office
in
the
state.
27
d.
The
state
registrar
shall
prescribe
by
rule
the
28
procedures
for
access
to
the
state
voter
registration
file,
29
including
all
of
the
following:
30
(1)
Access
protocols
for
adding,
changing,
or
deleting
31
information
from
the
state
voter
registration
file.
32
(2)
Training
requirements
for
all
state
voter
registration
33
file
users.
34
(3)
Technology
safeguards,
including
county
information
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technology
network
requirements,
necessary
to
access
the
state
1
voter
registration
file.
2
(4)
Breach
incident
response
requirements
and
protocols
on
3
all
matters
related
to
elections.
4
e.
The
state
registrar
may
rescind
access
to
the
statewide
5
voter
registration
file
from
a
user
who
is
not
in
compliance
6
with
the
prescribed
rules.
7
f.
(1)
The
state
registrar
shall,
in
the
first
quarter
8
of
each
calendar
year,
conduct
a
verification
of
all
voters
9
in
the
statewide
voter
registration
file,
which
shall
10
include
cross-referencing
the
records
in
the
statewide
voter
11
registration
file
with
similar
records
maintained
by
other
12
states.
The
state
registrar
of
voters
shall
cancel
the
13
registration
of
a
voter
found
to
be
ineligible
pursuant
to
14
section
48A.30
.
The
state
registrar
shall
submit
a
report
15
to
the
general
assembly
by
April
30
of
each
year
regarding
16
the
number
of
voter
registrations
canceled
pursuant
to
this
17
paragraph.
The
state
registrar
shall
also
publish
this
report
18
on
the
internet
site
of
the
state
registrar.
19
(2)
g.
The
state
registrar
may
contract
with
a
third-party
20
vendor
,
including
state
and
federal
government
agencies
and
21
private
entities,
to
develop
or
provide
a
program
to
allow
22
the
state
registrar
to
verify
the
status
of
records
in
the
23
statewide
voter
registration
file
and
identify
ineligible
24
voters
on
an
ongoing
basis.
25
h.
The
state
registrar
may
adopt
rules
pursuant
to
chapter
26
17A
for
the
use
of
federal
and
other
state
agency
sources
of
27
information.
The
state
registrar
and
county
commissioners
28
of
elections
may
use
those
sources
of
information
for
voter
29
registration
file
maintenance.
30
i.
The
department
of
transportation
shall
transmit
to
the
31
state
registrar
a
list
of
each
person
seventeen
years
of
age
or
32
older
in
the
state
who
has
submitted
documentation
indicating
33
that
the
person
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States.
34
Sec.
29.
Section
48A.10A,
subsections
1
and
2,
Code
2025,
35
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are
amended
to
read
as
follows:
1
1.
The
state
registrar
shall
compare
lists
of
persons
who
2
are
registered
to
vote
with
the
department
of
transportation’s
3
driver’s
license
and
files,
nonoperator’s
identification
4
card
files
,
and
noncitizen
identification
files,
and
shall,
5
on
an
initial
basis,
issue
a
voter
identification
card
to
6
each
active,
registered
voter
whose
name
does
not
appear
7
in
the
department
of
transportation’s
files.
The
voter
8
identification
card
shall
include
the
name
of
the
registered
9
voter,
a
signature
line
above
which
the
registered
voter
shall
10
sign
the
voter
identification
card,
the
registered
voter’s
11
identification
number
assigned
to
the
voter
pursuant
to
12
section
47.7,
subsection
2
,
an
additional
four-digit
personal
13
identification
number
assigned
by
the
state
commissioner,
and
14
the
times
during
which
polling
places
will
be
open
on
election
15
days.
16
2.
The
commissioner
shall
issue
voter
identification
cards
17
on
an
ongoing
basis
as
prescribed
by
the
state
registrar.
The
18
commissioner
shall,
as
a
part
of
the
voter
acknowledgment
19
process
required
under
sections
48A.26
and
48A.26A
,
issue
20
a
voter
identification
card
to
a
registered
voter
under
21
this
subsection
at
the
time
of
registration
or
update
to
22
registration
if
the
registered
voter’s
name
does
not
appear
23
in
the
department
of
transportation’s
driver’s
license
,
or
24
nonoperator’s
identification
card
,
or
noncitizen
identification
25
files.
A
registered
voter
whose
name
appears
in
the
department
26
of
transportation’s
driver’s
license
,
or
nonoperator’s
27
identification
card
,
or
noncitizen
identification
files
shall
28
not
be
issued
a
voter
identification
card
pursuant
to
this
29
section
.
30
Sec.
30.
Section
48A.25A,
Code
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
31
the
following
new
subsection:
32
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
2A.
A
voter
registration
record
shall
be
33
designated
as
unconfirmed
status
if
the
registrant
self-reports
34
to
be
a
noncitizen
on
the
voter
registration
form
and
signs
35
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the
portion
of
the
form
affirming
the
person’s
United
States
1
citizenship.
2
Sec.
31.
Section
48A.30,
subsection
1,
Code
2025,
is
amended
3
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
4
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
h.
The
registered
voter
submits
5
documentation
that
indicates
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
6
citizen
of
the
United
States
or
reports
to
a
state
or
federal
7
agency
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
8
States.
9
Sec.
32.
Section
48A.30,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
10
to
read
as
follows:
11
2.
When
a
registration
is
canceled
pursuant
to
subsection
1
,
12
paragraph
“d”
,
“e”
,
or
“g”
,
or
“h”
,
the
commissioner
shall
send
13
a
notice
of
the
cancellation
to
the
registered
voter.
14
Sec.
33.
Section
48A.37,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
15
to
read
as
follows:
16
2.
Electronic
records
shall
include
a
status
code
17
designating
whether
the
records
are
active,
inactive,
18
incomplete,
pending,
unconfirmed,
or
canceled.
19
a.
Inactive
records
are
records
of
registered
voters
to
20
whom
notices
have
been
sent
pursuant
to
section
48A.28
,
and
21
who
have
not
returned
the
card
or
otherwise
responded
to
22
the
notice,
and
those
records
have
been
designated
inactive
23
pursuant
to
section
48A.29
.
Inactive
records
are
also
records
24
of
registered
voters
to
whom
notices
have
been
sent
pursuant
25
to
section
48A.26A
and
who
have
not
responded
to
the
notice.
26
Incomplete
records
are
records
missing
required
information
27
pursuant
to
section
48A.11,
subsection
8
.
Pending
records
28
are
records
of
applicants
whose
applications
have
not
been
29
verified
pursuant
to
section
48A.25A
.
Unconfirmed
records
are
30
records
of
registered
voters
about
whom
the
state
registrar
or
31
county
commissioner
has
received
information
from
a
reliable
32
source
indicating
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
qualified.
33
Canceled
records
are
records
that
have
been
canceled
pursuant
34
to
section
48A.30
.
All
other
records
are
active
records.
35
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b.
An
inactive
record
shall
be
made
active
when
the
1
registered
voter
requests
an
absentee
ballot,
votes
at
an
2
election,
registers
again,
or
reports
a
change
of
name,
3
address,
telephone
number,
or
political
party
or
organization
4
affiliation.
An
incomplete
record
shall
be
made
active
when
5
a
completed
application
is
received
from
the
applicant
and
6
verified
pursuant
to
section
48A.25A
.
A
pending
record
shall
7
be
made
active
upon
verification
or
upon
the
voter
providing
8
identification
pursuant
to
section
48A.8
.
An
unconfirmed
9
record
shall
be
made
active
upon
the
registered
voter
providing
10
evidence
that
the
registered
voter
is
qualified.
11
Sec.
34.
Section
49.77,
subsection
1,
paragraph
a,
Code
12
2025,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
13
a.
Any
person
desiring
to
vote
shall
sign
a
voter’s
14
declaration
provided
by
the
officials,
in
substantially
the
15
following
form:
16
VOTER’S
DECLARATION
17
OF
ELIGIBILITY
18
I
do
solemnly
swear
or
affirm
that
I
am
a
resident
of
the
....
19
precinct,
....
ward
or
township,
city
of
........
,
county
of
20
........
,
Iowa.
I
am
a
citizen
of
the
United
States.
21
I
am
a
registered
voter.
I
was
born
on
the
....
day
of
....
22
(month)
....
(year).
I
have
not
voted
and
will
not
23
vote
in
any
other
precinct
in
said
election.
24
I
understand
that
any
false
statement
in
this
declaration
is
25
a
criminal
offense
punishable
as
provided
by
law.
26
................................
27
Signature
of
Voter
28
................................
29
Address
30
................................
31
Telephone
(optional)
32
Approved:
33
............................................
34
Board
Member
35
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Sec.
35.
Section
49.80,
subsection
2,
paragraph
a,
Code
1
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
the
following
new
subparagraph:
2
NEW
SUBPARAGRAPH
.
(5)
The
person’s
citizenship
status.
3
Sec.
36.
Section
50.22,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
4
to
read
as
follows:
5
2.
The
decision
to
count
or
reject
each
ballot
shall
be
6
made
upon
the
basis
of
the
information
given
on
the
envelope
7
containing
the
provisional
ballot,
the
evidence
concerning
8
the
challenge,
the
registration
and
the
returned
receipts
of
9
registration.
Ballots
submitted
to
the
board
pursuant
to
10
section
49.78
or
49.81
that
are
not
cured
by
the
deadline
11
provided
in
section
49.81,
subsection
6,
shall
be
rejected.
12
DIVISION
X
13
ELECTION
MISCONDUCT
14
Sec.
37.
Section
39A.7,
Code
2025,
is
amended
to
read
as
15
follows:
16
39A.7
Election
misconduct
——
investigation.
17
1.
The
attorney
general
county
sheriff,
or
other
law
18
enforcement
agency
with
jurisdiction,
shall
investigate
19
allegations
of
election
misconduct
reported
to
the
attorney
20
general.
Election
misconduct
by
an
election
official
shall
21
also
be
investigated
for
prosecution
under
chapter
721
.
22
2.
Upon
the
completion
of
an
investigation
required
by
23
this
section
,
the
attorney
general
county
sheriff,
or
other
24
law
enforcement
agency
with
jurisdiction,
shall
submit
the
25
results
of
the
investigation
,
including
the
report
from
the
26
law
enforcement
agency,
to
the
attorney
general
and
the
state
27
commissioner
,
and
the
attorney
general
shall
explain
whether
28
the
attorney
general
will
pursue
charges.
Any
information
that
29
is
requested
by
or
in
the
possession
of
the
state
commissioner
30
pursuant
to
this
chapter
remains
a
confidential
record
pursuant
31
to
section
22.7,
subsection
5.
32
EXPLANATION
33
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
34
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
35
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This
bill
relates
to
the
conduct
of
elections.
The
bill
is
1
organized
in
divisions.
2
DIVISION
I
——
CANDIDATE
ELIGIBILITY
OBJECTIONS.
This
3
division
relates
to
the
nomination
of
candidates
for
federal
4
office.
The
bill
exempts
candidates
for
federal
office
from
5
the
requirement
that
a
candidate
sign
a
statement
that
the
6
candidate
is
aware
that
the
candidate
is
disqualified
from
7
holding
office
if
the
candidate
has
been
convicted
of
a
felony
8
or
other
infamous
crime
and
the
candidate’s
rights
have
not
9
been
restored
by
the
governor
or
by
the
president
of
the
United
10
States.
The
bill
limits
objections
to
the
eligibility
of
a
11
candidate
for
a
federal
office
that
may
be
filed
with
the
12
state
commissioner
of
elections
to
objections
to
the
legal
13
sufficiency
of
the
nomination
petition
or
certificate
of
14
election,
or
to
the
residency,
age,
or
citizenship
requirements
15
as
described
in
the
United
States
Constitution.
With
16
respect
to
nominations
for
president
or
vice
president
of
the
17
United
States,
the
bill
allows
objections
only
to
the
legal
18
sufficiency
of
the
certificate
of
nomination.
The
certificate
19
of
nomination
shall
be
presumed
valid.
20
This
division
of
the
bill
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
21
DIVISION
II
——
RANKED
CHOICE
VOTING.
This
division
relates
22
to
the
use
of
ranked
choice
and
instant
runoff
voting
for
23
elections
in
this
state.
The
bill
prohibits
ranked
choice
and
24
instant
runoff
voting,
defined
in
the
bill
as
a
system
in
which
25
voters
rank
multiple
candidates
for
a
single
office
in
order
of
26
preference
and
candidates
are
eliminated
and
votes
transferred
27
between
candidates
in
a
series
of
rounds,
from
being
used
to
28
cast
or
tabulate
ballots
in
any
election
in
this
state.
29
This
division
of
the
bill
takes
effect
January
1,
2026.
30
DIVISION
III
——
PERSONS
PERMITTED
IN
VOTING
BOOTHS.
31
This
division
amends
the
subsection
of
Code
section
49.88
32
(limitation
on
persons
in
booth
and
time
for
voting)
33
prohibiting
a
person
standing
for
election
on
the
ballot
before
34
a
voter
from
occupying
the
voting
booth
with
the
voter
and
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Code
section
49.90
(assisting
voter)
to
say
that
the
candidate
1
violates
Code
section
49.88
by
occupying
the
voting
booth
with
2
the
voter.
3
This
division
of
the
bill
takes
effect
January
1,
2026.
4
DIVISION
IV
——
VOTER
REGISTRATION
DATABASE
PILOT
PROGRAM.
5
This
division
requires
the
state
registrar
of
voters
to
6
contract
with
a
third-party
vendor
to
develop
or
provide
a
7
program
to
allow
the
state
registrar
to
verify
the
status
of
8
records
in
the
statewide
voter
registration
file
and
identify
9
ineligible
voters
on
an
ongoing
basis.
During
the
first
10
quarter
of
2026,
the
bill
requires
the
state
registrar
of
11
voters
to
utilize
the
program
developed
or
provided
by
the
12
third-party
vendor
to
verify
the
status
of
records
in
the
13
statewide
voter
registration
file.
The
state
registrar
shall
14
forward
the
results
of
the
analysis
to
each
county
commissioner
15
of
registration
prior
to
the
date
that
county
commissioners
16
of
registration
are
required
to
submit
voter
list
maintenance
17
reports.
The
bill
requires
the
state
registrar
of
voters
to
18
evaluate
the
efficacy
and
cost
of
the
pilot
program
as
compared
19
to
the
current
method
of
maintaining
the
statewide
voter
20
registration
database.
The
pilot
program
is
repealed
effective
21
December
31,
2028.
22
DIVISION
V
——
COUNTY
HOSPITAL
BOARD
OF
TRUSTEES.
This
23
division
strikes
a
provision
setting
the
term
length
for
24
persons
elected
to
a
county
hospital
board
of
trustees
in
a
25
county
with
a
population
of
at
least
400,000
to
six
years,
26
returning
the
term
length
to
four
years.
27
This
division
of
the
bill
applies
retroactively
to
persons
28
elected
to
a
county
hospital
board
of
trustees
on
or
after
29
January
1,
2024.
30
DIVISION
VI
——
POLITICAL
PARTY
——
DEFINITION.
Under
current
31
law,
the
definition
of
“political
party”
is
a
party
which,
at
32
the
last
preceding
general
election,
cast
for
its
candidate
33
for
president
of
the
United
States
or
for
governor,
as
the
34
case
may
be,
at
least
2
percent
of
the
total
vote
cast
for
all
35
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candidates
for
that
office
at
that
election.
This
division
1
increases
the
threshold
to
at
least
10
percent
of
the
total
2
vote
cast.
3
DIVISION
VII
——
NOMINATION
FILING
DEADLINES.
This
division
4
changes
the
filing
deadline
for
candidates
nominated
by
5
petition
or
by
a
nonparty
political
organization
for
election
6
at
a
general
election
to
5:00
p.m.
on
the
first
Tuesday
after
7
the
first
Monday
in
June,
the
same
day
on
which
political
8
parties
are
required
to
hold
a
primary
election.
9
DIVISION
VIII——
AFFIDAVITS
OF
CANDIDACY.
This
division
10
requires
that
affidavits
of
candidacy
include
a
statement
that
11
the
candidate
is
aware
that,
by
filing
the
affidavit,
the
12
candidate
is
ineligible
to
appear
on
the
same
ballot
for
the
13
same
office
through
nomination
by
another
method.
14
DIVISION
IX
——
VOTER
REGISTRATION.
This
division
relates
15
to
voter
registration
file
maintenance
and
the
verification
16
of
the
eligibility
of
registered
voters.
The
bill
specifies
17
that
the
state
registrar
of
voters
may
contract
with
federal
18
and
state
agencies
and
private
entities
for
voter
registration
19
verification
purposes
and
allows
the
state
registrar
to
20
adopt
rules
regarding
the
use
of
federal
and
state
sources
of
21
information
for
voter
registration
file
maintenance.
22
The
bill
requires
the
department
of
transportation
to
share
23
with
the
state
registrar
of
voters
a
list
of
each
person
who
24
has
submitted
documentation
indicating
that
the
person
is
25
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States
and
requires
the
state
26
registrar
of
voters
to
compare
the
list
of
registered
voters
27
with
the
noncitizen
identification
information
maintained
by
28
the
department
of
transportation.
29
The
bill
requires
a
voter
registration
to
be
marked
as
30
“unconfirmed”
if
a
registrant
marks
on
the
voter
registration
31
form
that
the
registrant
is
a
noncitizen
and
also
signs
32
the
portion
of
the
form
affirming
that
the
registrant
is
a
33
citizen
of
the
United
States
or
if
the
state
registrar
of
34
voters
or
county
commissioner
of
elections
receives
reliable
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information
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
1
United
States.
The
bill
requires
a
voter
registration
to
be
2
changed
from
unconfirmed
to
active
if
the
registered
voter
3
provides
evidence
that
the
registered
voter
is
qualified
to
4
vote.
The
bill
adds
a
statement
regarding
citizenship
status
5
to
the
declaration
of
eligibility
signed
by
each
voter
prior
6
to
receiving
a
ballot.
7
The
bill
also
requires
a
voter
registration
to
be
canceled
8
if
the
registered
voter
submits
documentation
that
indicates
9
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States
10
or
reports
to
a
state
or
federal
agency
that
the
registered
11
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States.
The
bill
allows
12
a
precinct
election
official
to
question
a
person
about
the
13
person’s
citizenship
status
if
the
right
of
the
person
to
vote
14
is
challenged
at
the
time
the
person
is
offering
to
vote.
15
The
bill
requires
the
special
precinct
election
board
to
16
reject
provisional
ballots
that
have
not
been
cured
by
the
17
statutory
deadline.
18
DIVISION
X
——
ELECTION
MISCONDUCT.
This
division
assigns
19
responsibility
for
investigating
election
misconduct
reported
20
to
the
attorney
general
to
the
county
sheriff
or
other
law
21
enforcement
agency
with
jurisdiction.
Upon
completion
of
the
22
investigation,
the
bill
requires
the
law
enforcement
agency
23
to
report
the
results
of
the
investigation
to
the
attorney
24
general,
in
addition
to
the
state
commissioner
of
elections
as
25
required
under
current
law.
Information
in
the
possession
of
26
or
requested
by
the
state
commissioner
of
elections
as
part
of
27
an
investigation
remains
a
confidential
record.
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