House File 716 - Reprinted HOUSE FILE 716 BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 245) (As Amended and Passed by the House May 1, 2023 ) A BILL FOR An Act relating to elections, including primary elections, 1 political party caucuses, updates to the statewide voter 2 registration system, and costs of preparing lists of voters. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 HF 716 (3) 90 ss/ns/md
H.F. 716 Section 1. Section 43.75, Code 2023, is amended to read as 1 follows: 2 43.75 Tie vote. 3 1. In case of a tie vote resulting in no nomination for any 4 office, except for senator or representative in the general 5 assembly, the tie shall forthwith be determined by lot by the 6 board of canvassers. 7 2. In case of a tie vote resulting in no nomination for a 8 senator or representative in the general assembly, the party 9 precinct committee members whose precincts lie within the 10 senatorial or representative district involved shall select the 11 winning candidate from among the candidates having received the 12 equal and highest number of votes. The state party chairperson 13 shall convene or reconvene such party precinct committee 14 members as appropriate. The partys state constitution 15 or bylaws may allow the voting strength of each precinct 16 represented at such a convention to be made proportionate 17 to the vote cast for the partys candidate for the office 18 in question in the respective precincts at the last general 19 election for that office. 20 Sec. 2. Section 43.4, subsection 3, Code 2023, is amended 21 to read as follows: 22 3. When the rules of a political party require the selection 23 and reporting of delegates selected as part of the presidential 24 nominating process, or the rules of a political party require 25 the tabulation and reporting of the number of persons attending 26 the caucus favoring each presidential candidate, it is the 27 duty of a person designated as provided by the rules of that 28 political party to report the results of the precinct caucus 29 as directed by the state central committee of that political 30 party. When the person designated to report the results of 31 the precinct caucus reports the results, representatives of 32 each candidate, if they so choose, may accompany the person 33 as the results are being reported to assure that an accurate 34 report of the proceedings is reported. If ballots are used 35 -1- HF 716 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 1/ 2
H.F. 716 at the precinct caucus, representatives of each candidate or 1 other persons attending the precinct caucus may observe the 2 tabulation of the results of the balloting. If the state 3 central committee of a political party chooses to select its 4 delegates as a part of the presidential nominating process 5 at political party precinct caucuses on the date provided in 6 subsection 1, the precinct caucuses shall take place in person 7 among the participants physically present at the location of 8 each precinct caucus. 9 Sec. 3. Section 43.91, Code 2023, is amended to read as 10 follows: 11 43.91 Voter at caucus qualifications. 12 1. Any person voting at a precinct caucus must be a person 13 who is or will by the date of the next general election become 14 an eligible elector, who has not already participated in the 15 caucus of any political party within the same year, and who is 16 a resident of the precinct. A list of the names and addresses 17 of each person to whom a ballot was delivered or who was 18 allowed to vote in each precinct caucus shall be prepared by 19 the caucus chairperson and secretary who shall certify such 20 list to the commissioner at the same time as the names of 21 those elected as delegates and party committee members are so 22 certified. 23 2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the state central 24 committee of each political party may set rules for 25 participation in or voting at a precinct caucus, including but 26 not limited to voter registration requirements. 27 Sec. 4. Section 47.7, subsection 3, Code 2023, is amended by 28 striking the subsection. 29 Sec. 5. Section 48A.38, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 30 following new subsection: 31 NEW SUBSECTION . 4. The registrar may adjust the cost of 32 preparation imposed pursuant to subsection 1 to reflect the 33 costs of processing a credit card payment by an amount not to 34 exceed the cost of processing the credit card payment. 35 -2- HF 716 (3) 90 ss/ns/md 2/ 2