1. Written objections required. Nomination petitions or certificates of nomination filed under this chapter which are apparently in conformity with the law are valid unless objection is made in writing.
Objections to the legal sufficiency of a nomination petition or certificate of nomination filed or issued under this chapter or to the eligibility of a candidate may be filed in writing by any person who would have the right to vote for the candidate for the office in question.
Objections shall be filed with the officer with whom the nomination petition or certificate of nomination was filed, and within the following time:
a. Those filed with the state commissioner, not less than seventy-four days before the date of the election.
b. Those filed with the commissioner, not less than sixty-four days before the date of the election.
c. Objections to nominations to fill vacancies at a special election held under section 69.14, under which the forty-day notice of election provision applies, shall be filed with the state commissioner not less than fifteen days prior to the date set for the special election. If the forty-day notice provision does not apply, objections to nominations to fill vacancies at a special election held under section 69.14 may be filed any time prior to the date set for the special election.
d. Those filed with the city clerk under this chapter, at least thirty-six days before the municipal election.
2. Notice of objections.
a. When objections have been filed, notice shall be mailed within seventy-two hours by certified mail to the candidate affected, addressed to the candidate's place of residence as stated in the candidate's affidavit of candidacy or in the certificate of nomination, stating that objections have been made, the nature of the objections, and the time and place the objections will be considered.
b. If an objection is filed to a nomination to fill a vacancy at a special election held under section 69.14, under which the forty-day notice of election provision of section 69.14 does not apply, notice of the objection shall be made to the candidate by the state commissioner as soon as practicable. Under this paragraph, failure to notify a candidate of an objection to the candidate's nomination prior to the date set for the special election does not invalidate the hearing conducted under subsection 3. The hearing to an objection shall proceed as quickly as possible to expedite the special election.
3. Hearing. Objections filed with the state commissioner shall be considered by the secretary of state, auditor of state, and attorney general. However, if the objection is to the nomination petition, certificate of nomination, or eligibility of one or more of those officers, those officers shall be replaced, respectively, by the treasurer of state, secretary of agriculture, and lieutenant governor for the hearing.
Objections filed with the commissioner shall be considered by three elected county officers whose eligibility is not in question. The chairperson of the board of supervisors shall appoint the three elected officers unless the chairperson is ineligible, in which case, the appointments shall be made by the county auditor. In either case, a majority vote shall decide the issue.
Objections filed with the city clerk shall be considered by the mayor and clerk and one member of the council chosen by the council by ballot, and a majority decision shall be final; but if the objection is to the certificate of nomination of either of those city officials, that official shall not pass upon said objection, but that official's place shall be filled by a member of the council against whom no objection exists, chosen as above.
84 Acts, ch 1291, § 1; 86 Acts, ch 1155, § 1; 89 Acts, ch 136, §11
Referred to in § 43.115
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© 1999 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
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