House File 2610 - Reprinted HOUSE FILE 2610 BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 697) (COMPANION TO LSB 6288SV BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT) (As Amended and Passed by the House March 5, 2024 ) A BILL FOR An Act relating to the duties of the secretary of state, 1 including the address confidentiality program and the 2 conduct of elections, and including effective date 3 provisions. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md
H.F. 2610 DIVISION I 1 ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM 2 Section 1. Section 9E.3, subsection 1, paragraphs e and f, 3 Code 2024, are amended to read as follows: 4 e. The residential address of the eligible person, 5 disclosure of which could lead to an increased risk of domestic 6 abuse, domestic abuse assault, sexual abuse, assault, stalking, 7 or human trafficking. If the eligible persons residential 8 address is a shelter known to the program, the applicant may 9 provide the shelters name and other contact information in 10 lieu of the shelters physical address. 11 f. If mail cannot be delivered to the residential address of 12 the eligible person, the address to which mail can be sent to 13 the eligible person. If the eligible persons mailing address 14 is a shelter known to the program, the applicant may provide 15 the shelters name and other contact information in lieu of the 16 shelters physical address. 17 Sec. 2. Section 9E.4, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended 18 to read as follows: 19 2. The secretary shall cancel a program participants 20 certification if the for any of the following reasons: 21 a. The program participants application contains false 22 information. 23 b. The secretary receives information from a reliable source 24 that the program participant has died. 25 Sec. 3. Section 9E.5, subsection 3, Code 2024, is amended 26 to read as follows: 27 3. The secretary shall forward all mail sent to the 28 designated address to the program participant. At the request 29 of the program participant, the secretary may hold the program 30 participants mail for up to thirty days. 31 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act, being 32 deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 33 DIVISION II 34 CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY OBJECTIONS 35 -1- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 1/ 16
H.F. 2610 Sec. 5. Section 43.18, subsection 9, Code 2024, is amended 1 to read as follows: 2 9. A For a candidate for an office other than a federal 3 office, a statement that the candidate is aware that the 4 candidate is disqualified from holding office if the candidate 5 has been convicted of a felony or other infamous crime and the 6 candidates rights have not been restored by the governor or by 7 the president of the United States. 8 Sec. 6. Section 43.24, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended 9 by adding the following new paragraph: 10 NEW PARAGRAPH . c. Objections to the eligibility of a 11 candidate for a federal office shall not be sustained unless 12 the objection is limited to the legal sufficiency of the 13 nomination petition or certificate of nomination, or to the 14 residency, age, or citizenship requirements as described in the 15 Constitution of the United States. 16 Sec. 7. Section 44.3, subsection 2, paragraph i, Code 2024, 17 is amended to read as follows: 18 i. A For a candidate for an office other than a federal 19 office, a statement that the candidate is aware that the 20 candidate is disqualified from holding office if the candidate 21 has been convicted of a felony or other infamous crime and the 22 candidates rights have not been restored by the governor or by 23 the president of the United States. 24 Sec. 8. Section 44.6, Code 2024, is amended to read as 25 follows: 26 44.6 Hearing before state commissioner. 27 Objections filed with the state commissioner shall be 28 considered by the secretary of state and auditor of state and 29 attorney general, and a majority decision shall be final. 30 However, if the objection is to the certificate of nomination 31 of one or more of the above named officers, the officer or 32 officers objected to shall not pass upon the objection, but 33 their places shall be filled, respectively, by the treasurer 34 of state, the governor, and the secretary of agriculture. 35 -2- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 2/ 16
H.F. 2610 Objections relating to incorrect or incomplete information 1 for information that is required under section 44.3 shall be 2 sustained. Objections to the eligibility of a candidate for 3 a federal office shall not be sustained unless the objection 4 is limited to the legal sufficiency of the nomination petition 5 or certificate of nomination, or to the residency, age, or 6 citizenship requirements as described in the Constitution of 7 the United States. 8 Sec. 9. Section 45.3, subsection 9, Code 2024, is amended 9 to read as follows: 10 9. A For a candidate for an office other than a federal 11 office, a statement that the candidate is aware that the 12 candidate is disqualified from holding office if the candidate 13 has been convicted of a felony or other infamous crime and the 14 candidates rights have not been restored by the governor or by 15 the president of the United States. 16 Sec. 10. Section 54.5, Code 2024, is amended by adding the 17 following new subsection: 18 NEW SUBSECTION . 5. An objection to a nomination made under 19 this section on any grounds other than the legal sufficiency 20 of the certificate of nomination shall not be sustained. The 21 certificate of nomination shall be presumed valid. 22 Sec. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act, being 23 deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment. 24 DIVISION III 25 RANKED CHOICE VOTING 26 Sec. 12. Section 49.93, Code 2024, is amended to read as 27 follows: 28 49.93 Number of votes for each office. 29 1. For an office to which one person is to be elected, a 30 voter shall not vote for more than one candidate. If two or 31 more persons are to be elected to an office, the voter shall 32 vote for no more than the number of persons to be elected. If a 33 person votes for more than the permitted number of candidates, 34 the vote for that office shall not count. Valid votes cast on 35 -3- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 3/ 16
H.F. 2610 the rest of the ballot shall be counted. 1 2. a. An election in this state shall not be conducted 2 using ranked choice voting or instant runoff voting. 3 b. For the purposes of this section, ranked choice voting 4 or instant runoff voting means a method of casting and 5 tabulating votes in which a voter ranks candidates in order of 6 preference, tabulation of ballots proceeds in rounds such that 7 in each round either a candidate is elected or the candidate 8 receiving the fewest votes is defeated, votes are transferred 9 from elected or defeated candidates to a voters next-ranked 10 candidate in order of preference, and tabulation ends when a 11 candidate receives the majority of votes cast or the number of 12 candidates elected equals the number of offices to be filled, 13 as applicable. 14 Sec. 13. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act takes 15 effect January 1, 2025. 16 DIVISION IV 17 ABSENT VOTERS 18 Sec. 14. Section 39A.4, subsection 1, paragraph c, 19 subparagraphs (10) and (11), Code 2024, are amended to read as 20 follows: 21 (10) Returning a voted absentee ballot by mail , to a ballot 22 drop box, or in person , to the commissioners office and the 23 person returning the ballot is a person prohibited to collect 24 and deliver a completed ballot pursuant to section 53.33 . 25 (11) Making a false or untrue statement reporting that 26 a voted absentee ballot was returned to the commissioners 27 office, by mail or in person, or to a ballot drop box, by a 28 person prohibited to collect and deliver a completed ballot 29 pursuant to section 53.33 . 30 Sec. 15. NEW SECTION . 53.1B Definitions. 31 For purposes of this subchapter, unless the context 32 otherwise requires: 33 1. Affidavit envelope means an envelope that includes 34 a serial number and bears on the back an affidavit for a 35 -4- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 4/ 16
H.F. 2610 registered voter to mark the registered voters signature and 1 voter verification number in a form prescribed by the state 2 commissioner. 3 2. Delivery envelope means an envelope that bears on its 4 face the name and address of the registered voter requesting an 5 absentee ballot, the words county commissioner of elections, 6 the address of the commissioners office, and the same serial 7 number that appears on the affidavit envelope and return 8 envelope. 9 3. Return envelope means an envelope that is addressed 10 to the commissioners office, bears appropriate return postage 11 or a postal permit guaranteeing that the commissioner will pay 12 the return postage, and includes the same serial number as the 13 affidavit envelope and delivery envelope. 14 4. Secrecy envelope means an envelope, folder, or sleeve 15 that hides all votes on a ballot when folded. 16 Sec. 16. Section 53.4, subsection 1, paragraph c, 17 subparagraph (2), Code 2024, is amended by striking the 18 subparagraph. 19 Sec. 17. Section 53.8, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended 20 to read as follows: 21 1. a. Upon receipt of an application for an absentee ballot 22 and immediately after the absentee ballots are printed, but 23 not more than twenty twenty-two days before the election, the 24 commissioner shall mail an absentee ballot to the applicant 25 within twenty-four hours, except as otherwise provided in 26 subsection 3 . The absentee ballot shall be sent to the 27 registered voter by one of the following methods: enclosed 28 in an unsealed affidavit envelope. The absentee ballot and 29 affidavit envelope shall be enclosed in or with an unsealed 30 return envelope. The absentee ballot, affidavit envelope, and 31 return envelope shall be enclosed in the delivery envelope. If 32 the ballot cannot be folded so that all the votes on the ballot 33 will be hidden, the commissioner shall also enclose a secrecy 34 envelope with the absentee ballot. 35 -5- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 5/ 16
H.F. 2610 (1) The absentee ballot shall be enclosed in an unsealed 1 envelope marked with a serial number and affidavit. The 2 absentee ballot and affidavit envelope shall be enclosed in 3 or with an unsealed return envelope marked postage paid which 4 bears the same serial number as the affidavit envelope. The 5 absentee ballot, affidavit envelope, and return envelope shall 6 be enclosed in a third envelope to be sent to the registered 7 voter. If the ballot cannot be folded so that all of the votes 8 cast on the ballot will be hidden, the commissioner shall also 9 enclose a secrecy envelope with the absentee ballot. 10 (2) The absentee ballot shall be enclosed in an unsealed 11 return envelope marked with a serial number and affidavit 12 and marked postage paid. The absentee ballot and return 13 envelope shall be enclosed in a second envelope to be sent 14 to the registered voter. If the ballot cannot be folded so 15 that all of the votes cast on the ballot will be hidden, the 16 commissioner shall also enclose a secrecy envelope with the 17 absentee ballot. 18 b. The affidavit shall be marked on the appropriate envelope 19 in a form prescribed by the state commissioner of elections 20 registered voter requesting and receiving an absentee ballot 21 shall subscribe to the affidavit by signing and marking the 22 registered voters voter verification number on the affidavit 23 envelope . 24 c. All domestic return envelope flaps or backs shall also 25 be printed or stamped with a notice of the deadline to return a 26 completed absentee ballot and the manner to track the status of 27 the ballot in a form prescribed by the state commissioner. 28 c. d. For envelopes mailed at any election other than the 29 primary election, the commissioner shall not mark any envelope 30 with any information related to the party affiliation of the 31 applicant. 32 Sec. 18. Section 53.8, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 2024, 33 is amended to read as follows: 34 a. The commissioner shall enclose with the absentee ballot 35 -6- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 6/ 16
H.F. 2610 a statement informing the applicant that the sealed return 1 envelope may be mailed to the commissioner by the registered 2 voter or a person not prohibited to collect and deliver a 3 completed ballot pursuant to section 53.33 , may be returned to 4 a drop box established by the commissioner pursuant to section 5 53.17, subsection 1 , by the registered voter or a person not 6 prohibited to collect and deliver a completed ballot pursuant 7 to section 53.33 , only if the commissioner has established 8 such a drop box, or may be personally delivered to the 9 commissioners office by the registered voter or a person not 10 prohibited to collect and deliver a completed ballot pursuant 11 to section 53.33 . The statement shall also inform the voter 12 that the voter may request that the person not prohibited to 13 collect and deliver a completed ballot pursuant to section 14 53.33 complete a receipt when retrieving the ballot from the 15 voter. A blank receipt shall be enclosed with the absentee 16 ballot. 17 Sec. 19. Section 53.10, subsection 2, paragraph a, Code 18 2024, is amended to read as follows: 19 a. Each person who wishes to vote by absentee ballot at 20 the commissioners office shall first sign an application for 21 a ballot including the following information: name, current 22 address, voter verification number, and the election for which 23 the ballot is requested. The person may report a change of 24 address or other information on the persons voter registration 25 record at that time. Prior to furnishing a ballot, the 26 commissioner shall verify the persons identity as provided 27 in section 49.78 . The registered voter shall immediately 28 mark the ballot; enclose the ballot in a secrecy envelope, 29 if necessary, and seal it the ballot in the envelope marked 30 with the affidavit envelope ; subscribe to the affidavit on 31 the reverse side of the envelope by signing and marking the 32 registered voters voter verification number ; and return the 33 sealed affidavit envelope containing the absentee ballot to 34 the commissioner. The commissioner shall record the numbers 35 -7- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 7/ 16
H.F. 2610 appearing on the application and affidavit envelope along with 1 the name of the registered voter. 2 Sec. 20. Section 53.12, Code 2024, is amended by striking 3 the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 4 53.12 Duty of commissioner. 5 The commissioner shall affix to the application the same 6 serial number that appears on the affidavit envelope, return 7 envelope, and delivery envelope. 8 Sec. 21. Section 53.16, Code 2024, is amended by striking 9 the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 10 53.16 Subscribing to affidavit. 11 After marking the ballot, the voter shall enclose the ballot 12 in a secrecy envelope, if necessary, and seal the ballot in 13 the affidavit envelope; subscribe to the affidavit by signing 14 and marking the registered voters voter verification number; 15 place the sealed affidavit envelope in the return envelope; and 16 securely seal the return envelope. 17 Sec. 22. Section 53.17, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 18 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows: 19 If the commissioner mailed the ballot pursuant to section 20 53.8, subsection 1 , paragraph a , subparagraph (1), the sealed 21 envelope bearing the voters affidavit and containing the 22 absentee ballot shall be enclosed in a return envelope which 23 shall be securely sealed. If the commissioner mailed the 24 ballot pursuant to section 53.8, subsection 1 , paragraph a , 25 subparagraph (2), the absentee ballot shall be enclosed in the 26 return envelope which shall be securely sealed. The sealed 27 return envelope shall be returned to the commissioner by one of 28 the following methods: 29 Sec. 23. Section 53.17, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 30 2024, is amended to read as follows: 31 a. The sealed return envelope may be delivered by the 32 registered voter, by the voters designee, or by the special 33 precinct election officials designated pursuant to section 34 53.22, subsection 2 , to the commissioners office no later 35 -8- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 8/ 16
H.F. 2610 than the time the polls are closed 5:00 p.m. on the day before 1 election day. However, if delivered by the voters designee, 2 the envelope shall be delivered within seventy-two hours of 3 retrieving it from the voter or by 5:00 p.m. on the day before 4 the closing of the polls on election day, whichever is earlier. 5 Sec. 24. Section 53.17, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 6 2024, is amended by striking the paragraph. 7 Sec. 25. Section 53.17, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended 8 to read as follows: 9 2. In order for the ballot to be counted, the return 10 envelope must be received in the commissioners office by 5:00 11 p.m. on the day before the polls close on election day and 12 recorded as received by the commissioner by 11:59 p.m. on the 13 day before election day . 14 Sec. 26. Section 53.17, subsection 4, paragraph f, Code 15 2024, is amended to read as follows: 16 f. A statement that the completed absentee ballot will be 17 delivered to the commissioners office within seventy-two hours 18 of retrieving it from the voter or by the close of business 19 on the day before the closing of the polls on election day, 20 whichever is earlier, or that the completed absentee ballot 21 will be mailed to the commissioner within seventy-two hours of 22 retrieving it from the voter. 23 Sec. 27. Section 53.17A, subsection 3, paragraph a, Code 24 2024, is amended to read as follows: 25 a. An absentee ballot received after the polls close 26 close of business on the day before election day but prior 27 to the official canvass shall be counted if the commissioner 28 determines that the ballot entered the federal mail system by 29 the deadline specified in section 53.17 or 53.22 . The date of 30 entry of such an absentee ballot into the federal mail system 31 shall only be verified as provided in paragraph b . 32 Sec. 28. Section 53.18, subsections 2 and 3, Code 2024, are 33 amended to read as follows: 34 2. If the commissioner receives the return envelope 35 -9- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 9/ 16
H.F. 2610 containing the completed absentee ballot by 5:00 p.m. on the 1 Saturday before the election for general elections and by 5:00 2 p.m. on the Friday before the election for all other elections, 3 the commissioner shall review the affidavit marked on the 4 return envelope, if applicable, for completeness or shall open 5 the return envelope to review the affidavit for completeness 6 open the return envelope, if applicable, and review the 7 affidavit marked on the affidavit envelope for completeness . 8 If the affidavit lacks the signature or voter verification 9 number of the registered voter, the commissioner shall, within 10 twenty-four hours of the receipt of the envelope, notify the 11 voter of the deficiency and inform the voter that the voter may 12 vote a replacement ballot as provided in subsection 3 , cast a 13 ballot as provided in section 53.19, subsection 3 , or complete 14 the affidavit in person at the office of the commissioner not 15 later than the time polls close on election day. 16 3. If the affidavit envelope or the return envelope marked 17 with the affidavit contains a defect that would cause the 18 absentee ballot to be rejected by the absentee and special 19 voters precinct board, the commissioner shall immediately 20 notify the voter of that fact and that the voters absentee 21 ballot shall not be counted unless the voter requests and 22 returns a replacement ballot in the time permitted under 23 section 53.17, subsection 2 . For the purposes of this section , 24 a return an affidavit envelope marked with the affidavit 25 shall be considered to contain a defect if it appears to 26 the commissioner that the signature on the envelope has been 27 signed by someone other than the registered voter, in comparing 28 the signature on the envelope to the signature on record of 29 the registered voter named on the envelope. A signature or 30 marking made in accordance with section 39.3, subsection 31 17 , shall not be considered a defect for purposes of this 32 section the voter verification number provided does not match 33 the voter verification number associated with the voters 34 voter registration . The voter may request a replacement 35 -10- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 10/ 16
H.F. 2610 ballot in person, in writing, or over the telephone. The 1 same serial number that was assigned to the records of the 2 original absentee ballot application shall be used on the 3 envelope envelopes and records of the replacement ballot. The 4 affidavit envelope marked with the affidavit and containing 5 the completed replacement ballot shall be marked Replacement 6 ballot. The affidavit envelope marked with the affidavit and 7 containing the original ballot shall be marked Defective and 8 the Defective. The replacement ballot shall be attached to 9 such the affidavit envelope containing the original ballot and 10 shall be stored in a secure place until they are delivered to 11 the absentee and special voters precinct board, notwithstanding 12 sections 53.26 and 53.27 . 13 Sec. 29. Section 53.19, subsection 1, Code 2024, is amended 14 to read as follows: 15 1. The commissioner shall maintain a list of the absentee 16 ballots provided to registered voters, the serial number 17 appearing on the unsealed envelope, the date the application 18 for the absentee ballot was received, the date the absentee 19 ballot was sent to the registered voter requesting the absentee 20 ballot, the date the absentee ballot was received by the 21 commissioner, the date the absentee ballot outer envelope was 22 opened, and whether the ballot was delivered by mail , or in 23 person, to a ballot drop box, or cast in person at a satellite 24 location. The information under this subsection shall be 25 reported separately at the same time as the information 26 reported under section 53.30, subsection 3 . 27 Sec. 30. Section 53.21, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 28 2024, is amended to read as follows: 29 b. The voter shall enclose one copy of the above statement 30 in the return envelope along with the affidavit envelope, if 31 the voter was mailed a separate affidavit envelope, and shall 32 retain a copy for the voters records. 33 Sec. 31. Section 53.23, subsection 3, paragraph b, 34 subparagraph (1), Code 2024, is amended to read as follows: 35 -11- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 11/ 16
H.F. 2610 (1) The commissioner may direct the board to meet on the day 1 before the election for the purpose of reviewing the absentee 2 voters affidavits appearing on the sealed envelopes. If in 3 the commissioners judgment this procedure is necessary due 4 to the number of absentee ballots received, the members of 5 the board may open the sealed affidavit envelopes and remove 6 the secrecy envelope containing the ballot, but under no 7 circumstances shall a secrecy envelope or a return an affidavit 8 envelope marked with an affidavit be opened before the board 9 convenes on election day, except as provided in paragraph 10 c . If the affidavit envelopes are opened before election 11 day pursuant to this paragraph b , the observers appointed 12 by each political party, as defined in section 43.2 , shall 13 witness the proceedings. Each political party may appoint up 14 to five observers under this paragraph b . The observers 15 shall be appointed by the county chairperson or, if the 16 county chairperson fails to make an appointment, by the state 17 chairperson. However, if either or both political parties fail 18 to appoint an observer, the commissioner may continue with the 19 proceedings. 20 Sec. 32. Section 53.23, subsection 5, Code 2024, is amended 21 to read as follows: 22 5. The special precinct election board shall preserve the 23 secrecy of all absentee and provisional ballots. After the 24 affidavits on the affidavit envelopes have been reviewed and 25 the qualifications of the persons casting the ballots have been 26 determined, those that have been accepted for counting shall 27 be opened. The ballots shall be removed from the affidavit 28 envelopes or return envelopes marked with the affidavit, as 29 applicable, without being unfolded or examined, and then shall 30 be thoroughly intermingled, after which they shall be unfolded 31 and tabulated. If secrecy folders or envelopes are used with 32 provisional paper ballots, the ballots shall be removed from 33 the secrecy folders envelopes after the ballots have been 34 intermingled. 35 -12- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 12/ 16
H.F. 2610 Sec. 33. Section 53.25, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 1 2024, is amended to read as follows: 2 a. If the absentee voters affidavit lacks the voters 3 signature or voter verification number , if the applicant is 4 not a duly registered voter on election day in the precinct 5 where the absentee ballot was cast, if the affidavit envelope 6 marked with the affidavit contains more than one ballot of any 7 one kind, or if the voter has voted in person, such vote shall 8 be rejected by the absentee and special voters precinct board. 9 If the affidavit envelope or return envelope marked with the 10 affidavit is open, or has been opened and resealed, or if the 11 ballot is not enclosed in such the affidavit envelope, and an 12 affidavit envelope or return envelope marked with the affidavit 13 with the same serial number and marked Replacement ballot is 14 not attached as provided in section 53.18 , the ballot shall be 15 rejected by the absentee and special voters precinct board. 16 Sec. 34. Section 53.25, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended 17 to read as follows: 18 2. If the absentee or provisional ballot is rejected prior 19 to the opening of the affidavit envelope or return envelope 20 marked with the affidavit , the voter casting the ballot shall 21 be notified by a precinct election official by the time the 22 canvass is completed of the reason for the rejection on a form 23 prescribed by the state commissioner of elections. 24 Sec. 35. Section 53.30, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended 25 to read as follows: 26 2. At the conclusion of each meeting of the absentee and 27 special voters precinct board, the board shall securely seal 28 all ballots counted by them in the manner prescribed in section 29 50.12 . The ballot envelopes, including the affidavit envelope 30 if an affidavit envelope was provided , the return envelope, and 31 secrecy envelope bearing the signatures of precinct election 32 officials, as required by section 53.23 , shall be preserved. 33 All applications for absentee ballots, ballots rejected without 34 being opened, absentee ballot logs, and any other documents 35 -13- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 13/ 16
H.F. 2610 pertaining to the absentee ballot process shall be preserved 1 until such time as the documents may be destroyed pursuant to 2 section 50.19 . 3 Sec. 36. Section 53.32, Code 2024, is amended to read as 4 follows: 5 53.32 Ballot of deceased voter. 6 When it shall be made to appear by due proof to the precinct 7 election officials that any elector, who has so marked and 8 forwarded a ballot, has died before the envelope marked with 9 the affidavit affidavit envelope is opened, then the ballot of 10 such deceased voter shall be endorsed, Rejected because voter 11 is dead, and be returned to the commissioner. The casting 12 of the ballot of a deceased voter shall not invalidate the 13 election. 14 Sec. 37. Section 53.33, subsection 7, paragraph a, Code 15 2024, is amended to read as follows: 16 a. Deliver the completed absentee ballot in person to the 17 commissioners office. The delivery agent shall not deliver 18 the completed absentee ballot by mail or to a ballot drop box . 19 Sec. 38. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act takes 20 effect January 1, 2025. 21 DIVISION V 22 PERSONS PERMITTED IN VOTING BOOTHS 23 Sec. 39. Section 49.88, subsection 3, Code 2024, is amended 24 to read as follows: 25 3. A person standing for election on the ballot before a 26 voter shall not occupy commits a violation of this section by 27 occupying the voting booth with the voter, including to assist 28 the voter. 29 Sec. 40. Section 49.90, Code 2024, is amended to read as 30 follows: 31 49.90 Assisting voter. 32 1. Any voter who may declare upon oath that the voter is 33 blind, cannot read the English language, or is, by reason of 34 any physical disability other than intoxication, unable to cast 35 -14- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 14/ 16
H.F. 2610 a vote without assistance, shall, upon request, be assisted by 1 the two officers as provided in section 49.89 , or alternatively 2 by any other person the voter may select in casting the vote, 3 except that the voter shall not select a person standing for 4 election on the ballot. The officers, or the person selected 5 by the voter, shall cast the vote of the voter requiring 6 assistance, and shall thereafter give no information regarding 7 the vote cast. If any elector because of a disability cannot 8 enter the building where the polling place for the electors 9 precinct of residence is located, the two officers shall take 10 a paper ballot to the vehicle occupied by the elector with 11 a disability and allow the elector to cast the ballot in 12 the vehicle. Ballots cast by voters with disabilities shall 13 be deposited in the regular ballot box, or inserted in the 14 tabulating device, and counted in the usual manner. 15 2. A person standing for election on the ballot before a 16 voter commits a violation of section 49.88 by occupying the 17 voting booth with the voter. 18 Sec. 41. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act takes 19 effect January 1, 2025. 20 DIVISION VI 21 VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE PILOT PROGRAM 22 Sec. 42. NEW SECTION . 47.7A Statewide voter registration 23 database verification pilot program. 24 1. A statewide voter registration database verification 25 pilot program is established within the office of the state 26 registrar as follows: 27 a. The state registrar shall contract with a third-party 28 vendor to develop or provide a program to allow the state 29 registrar to verify the status of records in the statewide 30 voter registration file and identify ineligible voters on an 31 ongoing basis. 32 b. During the first quarter of the calendar year 2025, 33 the state registrar shall utilize the program developed or 34 provided by the third-party vendor to verify the status of 35 -15- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 15/ 16
H.F. 2610 records in the statewide voter registration file. The state 1 registrar shall forward the results of the analysis to each 2 county commissioner of registration prior to the date reports 3 are required to be submitted pursuant to section 48A.40. 4 c. The state registrar shall evaluate the efficacy and 5 cost of the pilot program as compared to the current method 6 of verifying the list of voters in the statewide voter 7 registration file. 8 2. This section is repealed December 31, 2027. 9 DIVISION VII 10 COUNTY HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES 11 Sec. 43. Section 347.9, subsection 3, Code 2024, is amended 12 by striking the subsection. 13 Sec. 44. TRANSITION. This division of this Act does not 14 alter the term of office of a trustee elected to a county 15 public hospital board of trustees prior to the effective date 16 of this division of this Act. 17 Sec. 45. EFFECTIVE DATE. This division of this Act takes 18 effect January 1, 2025. 19 -16- HF 2610 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 16/ 16