Bill Text: IA SSB1088 | 2025-2026 | 91st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to voter registration, including voter registration file maintenance and verification of voter eligibility.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-20 - Subcommittee recommends passage. [SSB1088 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2025-SSB1088-Introduced.html
Senate
Study
Bill
1088
-
Introduced
SENATE/HOUSE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
SECRETARY
OF
STATE
BILL)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
voter
registration,
including
voter
1
registration
file
maintenance
and
verification
of
voter
2
eligibility.
3
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
TLSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
Section
1.
Section
47.7,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
1
to
read
as
follows:
2
2.
a.
On
or
before
January
1,
2006,
the
The
state
registrar
3
of
voters
shall
implement
in
a
uniform
and
nondiscriminatory
4
manner,
a
single,
uniform,
official,
centralized,
interactive
5
computerized
statewide
voter
registration
file
defined,
6
maintained,
and
administered
at
the
state
level
that
contains
7
the
name
and
registration
information
of
every
legally
8
registered
voter
in
the
state
and
assigns
a
unique
identifier
9
to
each
legally
registered
voter
in
the
state.
The
state
voter
10
registration
system
shall
be
coordinated
with
other
agency
11
databases
within
the
state,
including
,
but
not
limited
to
,
12
state
department
of
transportation
driver’s
license
records,
13
judicial
records
of
convicted
felons
and
persons
declared
14
incompetent
to
vote,
and
department
of
health
and
human
15
services
records
of
deceased
persons.
16
b.
On
or
after
January
1,
2007,
a
A
county
shall
not
17
establish
or
maintain
a
voter
registration
system
separate
18
from
the
state
voter
registration
system.
Each
county
shall
19
provide
to
the
state
registrar
the
names,
voter
registration
20
information,
and
voting
history
of
each
registered
voter
in
the
21
county
in
the
form
required
by
the
state
registrar.
22
c.
A
state
or
local
election
official
may
obtain
immediate
23
electronic
access
to
the
information
contained
in
the
24
computerized
voter
registration
file.
All
voter
registration
25
information
obtained
by
a
local
election
official
shall
be
26
electronically
entered
into
the
computerized
voter
registration
27
file
on
an
expedited
basis
at
the
time
the
information
is
28
provided
to
the
local
election
official.
The
state
registrar
29
shall
provide
such
support
as
may
be
required
to
enable
local
30
election
officials
to
electronically
enter
the
information
into
31
the
computerized
voter
registration
file
on
an
expedited
basis.
32
The
list
generated
from
the
computerized
file
shall
serve
as
33
the
official
voter
registration
list
for
the
conduct
of
all
34
elections
for
federal
office
in
the
state.
35
-1-
LSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
1/
7
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
d.
The
state
registrar
shall
prescribe
by
rule
the
1
procedures
for
access
to
the
state
voter
registration
file,
2
including
all
of
the
following:
3
(1)
Access
protocols
for
adding,
changing,
or
deleting
4
information
from
the
state
voter
registration
file.
5
(2)
Training
requirements
for
all
state
voter
registration
6
file
users.
7
(3)
Technology
safeguards,
including
county
information
8
technology
network
requirements,
necessary
to
access
the
state
9
voter
registration
file.
10
(4)
Breach
incident
response
requirements
and
protocols
on
11
all
matters
related
to
elections.
12
e.
The
state
registrar
may
rescind
access
to
the
statewide
13
voter
registration
file
from
a
user
who
is
not
in
compliance
14
with
the
prescribed
rules.
15
f.
(1)
The
state
registrar
shall,
in
the
first
quarter
16
of
each
calendar
year,
conduct
a
verification
of
all
voters
17
in
the
statewide
voter
registration
file,
which
shall
18
include
cross-referencing
the
records
in
the
statewide
voter
19
registration
file
with
similar
records
maintained
by
other
20
states.
The
state
registrar
of
voters
shall
cancel
the
21
registration
of
a
voter
found
to
be
ineligible
pursuant
to
22
section
48A.30
.
The
state
registrar
shall
submit
a
report
23
to
the
general
assembly
by
April
30
of
each
year
regarding
24
the
number
of
voter
registrations
canceled
pursuant
to
this
25
paragraph.
The
state
registrar
shall
also
publish
this
report
26
on
the
internet
site
of
the
state
registrar.
27
(2)
g.
The
state
registrar
may
contract
with
a
third-party
28
vendor
,
including
state
and
federal
government
agencies
and
29
private
entities,
to
develop
or
provide
a
program
to
allow
30
the
state
registrar
to
verify
the
status
of
records
in
the
31
statewide
voter
registration
file
and
identify
ineligible
32
voters
on
an
ongoing
basis.
33
h.
The
state
registrar
may
adopt
rules
pursuant
to
chapter
34
17A
for
the
use
of
federal
and
other
state
agency
sources
of
35
-2-
LSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
2/
7
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
information.
The
state
registrar
and
county
commissioners
1
of
elections
may
use
those
sources
of
information
for
voter
2
registration
file
maintenance.
3
i.
The
department
of
transportation
shall
transmit
to
the
4
state
registrar
a
list
of
each
person
seventeen
years
of
age
or
5
older
in
the
state
who
has
submitted
documentation
indicating
6
that
the
person
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States.
7
Sec.
2.
Section
48A.10A,
subsections
1
and
2,
Code
2025,
are
8
amended
to
read
as
follows:
9
1.
The
state
registrar
shall
compare
lists
of
persons
who
10
are
registered
to
vote
with
the
department
of
transportation’s
11
driver’s
license
and
files,
nonoperator’s
identification
12
card
files
,
and
noncitizen
identification
files,
and
shall,
13
on
an
initial
basis,
issue
a
voter
identification
card
to
14
each
active,
registered
voter
whose
name
does
not
appear
15
in
the
department
of
transportation’s
files.
The
voter
16
identification
card
shall
include
the
name
of
the
registered
17
voter,
a
signature
line
above
which
the
registered
voter
shall
18
sign
the
voter
identification
card,
the
registered
voter’s
19
identification
number
assigned
to
the
voter
pursuant
to
20
section
47.7,
subsection
2
,
an
additional
four-digit
personal
21
identification
number
assigned
by
the
state
commissioner,
and
22
the
times
during
which
polling
places
will
be
open
on
election
23
days.
24
2.
The
commissioner
shall
issue
voter
identification
cards
25
on
an
ongoing
basis
as
prescribed
by
the
state
registrar.
The
26
commissioner
shall,
as
a
part
of
the
voter
acknowledgment
27
process
required
under
sections
48A.26
and
48A.26A
,
issue
28
a
voter
identification
card
to
a
registered
voter
under
29
this
subsection
at
the
time
of
registration
or
update
to
30
registration
if
the
registered
voter’s
name
does
not
appear
31
in
the
department
of
transportation’s
driver’s
license
,
or
32
nonoperator’s
identification
card
,
or
noncitizen
identification
33
files.
A
registered
voter
whose
name
appears
in
the
department
34
of
transportation’s
driver’s
license
,
or
nonoperator’s
35
-3-
LSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
3/
7
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
identification
card
,
or
noncitizen
identification
files
shall
1
not
be
issued
a
voter
identification
card
pursuant
to
this
2
section
.
3
Sec.
3.
Section
48A.25A,
Code
2025,
is
amended
by
adding
the
4
following
new
subsection:
5
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
2A.
A
voter
registration
record
shall
be
6
designated
as
unconfirmed
status
if
the
registrant
self-reports
7
to
be
a
noncitizen
on
the
voter
registration
form
and
signs
8
the
portion
of
the
form
affirming
the
person’s
United
States
9
citizenship.
10
Sec.
4.
Section
48A.30,
subsection
1,
Code
2025,
is
amended
11
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
12
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
h.
The
registered
voter
submits
13
documentation
that
indicates
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
14
citizen
of
the
United
States
or
reports
to
a
state
or
federal
15
agency
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
16
States.
17
Sec.
5.
Section
48A.30,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
18
to
read
as
follows:
19
2.
When
a
registration
is
canceled
pursuant
to
subsection
1
,
20
paragraph
“d”
,
“e”
,
or
“g”
,
or
“h”
,
the
commissioner
shall
send
21
a
notice
of
the
cancellation
to
the
registered
voter.
22
Sec.
6.
Section
48A.37,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
23
to
read
as
follows:
24
2.
Electronic
records
shall
include
a
status
code
25
designating
whether
the
records
are
active,
inactive,
26
incomplete,
pending,
unconfirmed,
or
canceled.
27
a.
Inactive
records
are
records
of
registered
voters
to
28
whom
notices
have
been
sent
pursuant
to
section
48A.28
,
and
29
who
have
not
returned
the
card
or
otherwise
responded
to
30
the
notice,
and
those
records
have
been
designated
inactive
31
pursuant
to
section
48A.29
.
Inactive
records
are
also
records
32
of
registered
voters
to
whom
notices
have
been
sent
pursuant
33
to
section
48A.26A
and
who
have
not
responded
to
the
notice.
34
Incomplete
records
are
records
missing
required
information
35
-4-
LSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
4/
7
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
pursuant
to
section
48A.11,
subsection
8
.
Pending
records
1
are
records
of
applicants
whose
applications
have
not
been
2
verified
pursuant
to
section
48A.25A
.
Unconfirmed
records
are
3
records
of
registered
voters
about
whom
the
state
registrar
or
4
county
commissioner
has
received
information
from
a
reliable
5
source
indicating
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
qualified.
6
Canceled
records
are
records
that
have
been
canceled
pursuant
7
to
section
48A.30
.
All
other
records
are
active
records.
8
b.
An
inactive
record
shall
be
made
active
when
the
9
registered
voter
requests
an
absentee
ballot,
votes
at
an
10
election,
registers
again,
or
reports
a
change
of
name,
11
address,
telephone
number,
or
political
party
or
organization
12
affiliation.
An
incomplete
record
shall
be
made
active
when
13
a
completed
application
is
received
from
the
applicant
and
14
verified
pursuant
to
section
48A.25A
.
A
pending
record
shall
15
be
made
active
upon
verification
or
upon
the
voter
providing
16
identification
pursuant
to
section
48A.8
.
An
unconfirmed
17
record
shall
be
made
active
upon
the
registered
voter
providing
18
evidence
that
the
registered
voter
is
qualified.
19
Sec.
7.
Section
49.77,
subsection
1,
paragraph
a,
Code
2025,
20
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
21
a.
Any
person
desiring
to
vote
shall
sign
a
voter’s
22
declaration
provided
by
the
officials,
in
substantially
the
23
following
form:
24
VOTER’S
DECLARATION
25
OF
ELIGIBILITY
26
I
do
solemnly
swear
or
affirm
that
I
am
a
resident
of
the
....
27
precinct,
....
ward
or
township,
city
of
........
,
county
of
28
........
,
Iowa.
I
am
a
citizen
of
the
United
States.
29
I
am
a
registered
voter.
I
was
born
on
the
....
day
of
....
30
(month)
....
(year).
I
have
not
voted
and
will
not
31
vote
in
any
other
precinct
in
said
election.
32
I
understand
that
any
false
statement
in
this
declaration
is
33
a
criminal
offense
punishable
as
provided
by
law.
34
................................
35
-5-
LSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
5/
7
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
Signature
of
Voter
1
................................
2
Address
3
................................
4
Telephone
(optional)
5
Approved:
6
............................................
7
Board
Member
8
Sec.
8.
Section
49.80,
subsection
2,
paragraph
a,
Code
2025,
9
is
amended
by
adding
the
following
new
subparagraph:
10
NEW
SUBPARAGRAPH
.
(5)
The
person’s
citizenship
status.
11
Sec.
9.
Section
50.22,
subsection
2,
Code
2025,
is
amended
12
to
read
as
follows:
13
2.
The
decision
to
count
or
reject
each
ballot
shall
be
14
made
upon
the
basis
of
the
information
given
on
the
envelope
15
containing
the
provisional
ballot,
the
evidence
concerning
16
the
challenge,
the
registration
and
the
returned
receipts
of
17
registration.
Ballots
submitted
to
the
board
pursuant
to
18
section
49.78
or
49.81
that
are
not
cured
by
the
deadline
19
provided
in
section
49.81,
subsection
6,
shall
be
rejected.
20
EXPLANATION
21
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
22
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
23
This
bill
relates
to
voter
registration
file
maintenance
and
24
the
verification
of
the
eligibility
of
registered
voters.
The
25
bill
specifies
that
the
state
registrar
of
voters
may
contract
26
with
federal
and
state
agencies
and
private
entities
for
27
voter
registration
verification
purposes
and
allows
the
state
28
registrar
to
adopt
rules
regarding
the
use
of
federal
and
state
29
sources
of
information
for
voter
registration
file
maintenance.
30
The
bill
requires
the
department
of
transportation
to
share
31
with
the
state
registrar
of
voters
a
list
of
each
person
who
32
has
submitted
documentation
indicating
that
the
person
is
33
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States
and
requires
the
state
34
registrar
of
voters
to
compare
the
list
of
registered
voters
35
-6-
LSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
6/
7
S.F.
_____
H.F.
_____
with
the
noncitizen
identification
information
maintained
by
1
the
department
of
transportation.
2
The
bill
requires
a
voter
registration
to
be
marked
as
3
“unconfirmed”
if
a
registrant
marks
on
the
voter
registration
4
form
that
the
registrant
is
a
noncitizen
and
also
signs
5
the
portion
of
the
form
affirming
that
the
registrant
is
a
6
citizen
of
the
United
States
or
if
the
state
registrar
of
7
voters
or
county
commissioner
of
elections
receives
reliable
8
information
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
9
United
States.
The
bill
requires
a
voter
registration
to
be
10
changed
from
unconfirmed
to
active
if
the
registered
voter
11
provides
evidence
that
the
registered
voter
is
qualified
to
12
vote.
The
bill
adds
a
statement
regarding
citizenship
status
13
to
the
declaration
of
eligibility
signed
by
each
voter
prior
14
to
receiving
a
ballot.
15
The
bill
also
requires
a
voter
registration
to
be
canceled
16
if
the
registered
voter
submits
documentation
that
indicates
17
that
the
registered
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States
18
or
reports
to
a
state
or
federal
agency
that
the
registered
19
voter
is
not
a
citizen
of
the
United
States.
The
bill
allows
20
a
precinct
election
official
to
question
a
person
about
the
21
person’s
citizenship
status
if
the
right
of
the
person
to
vote
22
is
challenged
at
the
time
the
person
is
offering
to
vote.
23
The
bill
requires
the
special
precinct
election
board
to
24
reject
provisional
ballots
that
have
not
been
cured
by
the
25
statutory
deadline.
26
-7-
LSB
1418XD
(6)
91
ss/ns
7/
7
