39AELECTION MISCONDUCT39A.1Title and purpose — election officials defined.1This chapter may be cited and referred to as the “Election Misconduct and Penalties Act”.2The purpose of this chapter is to identify actions which threaten the integrity of the election process and to impose significant sanctions upon persons who intentionally commit those acts. It is the intent of the general assembly that offenses with the greatest potential to affect the election process be vigorously prosecuted and strong punishment meted out through the imposition of felony sanctions which, as a consequence, remove the voting rights of the offenders. Other offenses are still considered serious, but based on the factual context in which they arise, they may not rise to the level of offenses to which felony penalties attach. The general assembly also recognizes that instances may arise in which technical infractions of chapters 39 through 53 may occur which do not merit any level of criminal sanction. In such instances, administrative notice from the state or county commissioner of elections is sufficient. Mandates or proscriptions in chapters 39 through 53 which are not specifically included in this chapter shall be considered to be directive only, without criminal sanction.3For the purposes of this chapter, “election officials” include the state commissioner, the county commissioner, employees of the state commissioner and county commissioner who are responsible for carrying out functions or duties under chapters 39 through 53, and precinct election officials appointed pursuant to sections 49.12, 49.14, 49.18, and 53.23.2002 Acts, ch 1071, §139A.2Election misconduct in the first degree.1A person commits the crime of election misconduct in the first degree if the person willfully commits any of the following acts:aRegistration fraud.1Produces, procures, submits, or accepts a voter registration application that is known by the person to be materially false, fictitious, forged, or fraudulent.2Falsely swears to an oath required pursuant to section 48A.7A.bVote fraud.1Destroys, delivers, or handles an application for a ballot or an absentee ballot with the intent of interfering with the voter’s right to vote.2Produces, procures, submits, or accepts a ballot or an absentee ballot, or produces, procures, casts, accepts, or tabulates a ballot that is known by the person to be materially false, fictitious, forged, or fraudulent.3Votes or attempts to vote more than once at the same election, or votes or attempts to vote at an election knowing oneself not to be qualified.4Makes a false or untrue statement in an application for an absentee ballot or makes or signs a false certification or affidavit in connection with an absentee ballot.5Otherwise deprives, defrauds, or attempts to deprive or defraud the citizens of this state of a fair and impartially conducted election process.cDuress.Intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, a person to do or to refrain from doing any of the following:1To register to vote, to vote, or to attempt to register to vote.2To urge or aid a person to register to vote, to vote, or to attempt to register to vote.3To sign a petition nominating a candidate for public office or a petition requesting an election for which a petition may legally be submitted.4To exercise a right under chapters 39 through 53.dBribery.1Pays, offers to pay, or causes to be paid money or any other thing of value to a person to influence the person’s vote.2Pays, offers to pay, or causes to be paid money or any other thing of value to an election official conditioned on some act done or omitted to be done contrary to the person’s official duty in relation to an election.3Receives money or any other thing of value knowing that it was given in violation of subparagraph (1) or (2).eConspiracy.Conspires with or acts as an accessory with another to commit an act in violation of paragraphs “a” through “d”.fVoting equipment tampering.Intentionally alters or damages any computer software or any physical part of voting equipment, automatic tabulating equipment, or any other part of a voting system.gFailure to perform duties.As an election official, fails to perform duties prescribed by chapters 39 through 53, except for section 48A.41, or fails to follow or implement guidance issued pursuant to section 47.1, or performs those duties and responsibilities in such a way as to hinder or disregard the object of the law.2Election misconduct in the first degree is a class “D” felony.2002 Acts, ch 1071, §2; 2007 Acts, ch 35, §1, 7; 2008 Acts, ch 1115, §89, 90; 2009 Acts, ch 57, §3; 2021 Acts, ch 12, §3, 7339A.3Election misconduct in the second degree.1A person commits the crime of election misconduct in the second degree if the person willfully commits any of the following acts:aInterference with validity of election.1Possesses an official ballot outside of the voting room unless the person is an election official or other person authorized by law to possess such a ballot.2Makes or possesses a counterfeit of an official election ballot.3Solicits or encourages a person to vote in an election knowing that person is not qualified to vote in the election.4Files a challenge containing false information under section 48A.14 or 49.79.5Falsely or fraudulently signs nomination papers on behalf of another person.bActions by election official.As an election official:1Refuses to register a person who is entitled to register to vote under chapter 48A.2Accepts a fee from an applicant applying for registration.3While the polls are open, opens a ballot received from a voter, except as permitted by law.4Marks a ballot by folding or otherwise so as to be able to recognize it.5Attempts to learn how a voter marked a ballot.6Causes a voter to cast a vote contrary to the voter’s intention.7Changes a ballot, or in any way causes a vote to be recorded contrary to the intention of the person casting that vote.8Allows a person to do any of the acts proscribed by subparagraphs (1) through (7).9Fails to perform voter list maintenance in violation of section 48A.41.cMiscellaneous offenses.Uses voter registration information, including resale or redistribution of the voter registration list without written permission of the state registrar, for purposes other than those permitted by section 48A.39.2Election misconduct in the second degree is an aggravated misdemeanor.2002 Acts, ch 1071, §3; 2008 Acts, ch 1115, §83; 2019 Acts, ch 148, §6, 7, 33; 2021 Acts, ch 12, §4, 7339A.4Election misconduct in the third degree.1A person commits the crime of election misconduct in the third degree if the person willfully commits any of the following acts:aElection day acts.Any of the following on election day:1Loitering, congregating, electioneering, posting signs, treating voters, or soliciting votes, during the receiving of the ballots, either on the premises of a polling place or within three hundred feet of an outside door of a building affording access to a room where the polls are held, or of an outside door of a building affording access to a hallway, corridor, stairway, or other means of reaching the room where the polls are held. This subparagraph does not apply to the posting of signs on private property not a polling place, except that the placement of a sign that is more than ninety square inches in size on a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, or its attachment to a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer parked on public property within three hundred feet of a polling place is prohibited.2Interrupting, hindering, or opposing a voter while in or approaching the polling place for the purpose of voting.3As a voter, submitting a false statement as to the voter’s ability to mark a ballot.4Interfering or attempting to interfere with a voter when the voter is inside the enclosed voting space, or when the voter is marking a ballot.5Endeavoring to induce a voter to show how the voter marks or has marked a ballot.6Marking, or causing in any manner to be marked, on a ballot, any character for the purpose of identifying such ballot.bActions by election official.As an election official:1Serving as a member of a challenging committee or observer under section 49.104, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, “e”, or “f”, while serving as a precinct election official at the polls.2Disclosing the manner in which a person’s ballot has been voted to anyone except as ordered by a court.3Failing to carry out a duty with regard to access under chapter 22 to a public record that relates to an election or voter registration.4Furnishing a voter with a ballot other than the proper ballot to be used at an election.5Making or consenting to a false entry on the list of voters or poll books.6Placing or permitting another election official to place anything other than a ballot into a ballot box as provided in section 49.85, or permitting a person other than an election official to place anything into a ballot box.7Taking or permitting to be taken out of a ballot box a ballot deposited in the ballot box, except in the manner prescribed by law.8Destroying or altering a ballot that has been given to a voter.9Permitting a person to vote in a manner prohibited by law.10Refusing or rejecting the vote of a voter qualified to vote.11Wrongfully acting or refusing to act for the purpose of avoiding an election, or of rendering invalid a ballot cast from a precinct or other voting district.12Having been deputized to carry the poll books of an election to the place where they are to be canvassed, failing to deliver them to such place, safe, with seals unbroken, and within the time specified by law.13Interferes with a person permitted at a polling place pursuant to section 49.104.cMiscellaneous offenses.1As a party committee member or a primary election officer or public officer upon whom a duty is imposed by chapter 43 or by a statute applicable to chapter 43, neglecting to perform any such duty, or performing any such duty in such a way as to hinder the object of the statute, or by disclosing to anyone, except as may be ordered by a court, the manner in which a ballot may have been voted.2As a person who is designated pursuant to section 43.4 to report the results of a precinct caucus as it relates to the selection and reporting of delegates selected as part of the presidential nominating process or who is designated pursuant to section 43.4 to tabulate and report the number of persons attending the caucus favoring each presidential candidate, failing to perform those duties, falsifying the information, or omitting information required to be reported under section 43.4.3Making a false answer under chapter 43 relative to a person’s qualifications and party affiliations.4Paying, offering to pay, or receiving compensation for voter registration assistance in violation of section 48A.25.5As a candidate, making a promise to name or appoint another person to a position or to secure a position for another person in violation of section 49.120.6Soliciting the use of influence from a candidate in violation of section 49.121.7As a public official or employee, or a person acting under color of a public official or employee, knowingly requiring a public employee to act in connection with an absentee ballot in violation of section 53.7.8As a person designated by the county commissioner of elections or by the voter casting an absentee ballot, failing to return an absentee ballot in violation of section 53.35A.9As an incumbent officeholder of, or a candidate for, an office being voted for at the election in progress, serving as a member of a challenging committee or observer under section 49.104, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, “e”, or “f”, or section 53.23, subsection 4.10Returning a voted absentee ballot by mail, to a ballot drop box, or in person, to the commissioner’s office and the person returning the ballot is a person prohibited to collect and deliver a completed ballot pursuant to section 53.33.11Making a false or untrue statement reporting that a voted absentee ballot was returned to the commissioner’s office, by mail or in person, or to a ballot drop box, by a person prohibited to collect and deliver a completed ballot pursuant to section 53.33.2Election misconduct in the third degree is a serious misdemeanor.2002 Acts, ch 1071, §4; 2004 Acts, ch 1083, §1, 37; 2007 Acts, ch 59, §20, 38; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §222; 2019 Acts, ch 148, §8, 33; 2021 Acts, ch 12, §5 – 8, 73; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §18039A.5Election misconduct in the fourth degree.1A person commits the crime of election misconduct in the fourth degree if the person willfully commits any of the following acts:aElection day acts.1As an employer, denying an employee the privilege conferred by section 49.109, or subjecting an employee to a penalty or reduction of wages because of the exercise of that privilege.2Failing or refusing to comply with an order or command of an election official made pursuant to chapter 49 for which another penalty is not provided.3Circulating, communicating, or attempting to circulate or communicate information with reference to the result of the counted ballots or making a compilation of vote subtotals before the polls are closed in violation of section 53.23.4Destroying, defacing, tearing down, or removing a list of candidates, card of instruction, or sample ballot posted as provided by law prior to the closing of the polls.5Removing or destroying the supplies or articles furnished for the purpose of enabling voters to prepare their ballots.6Violating or attempting to violate any of the provisions or requirements of chapter 49 to which another penalty does not apply.bMiscellaneous offenses.1As a public employee, acting in connection with an absentee ballot in violation of section 53.7.2Violating any provision of chapter 53 for which another penalty is not provided.3Violating any provision of chapter 48A for which another penalty is not provided.2Election misconduct in the fourth degree is a simple misdemeanor.2002 Acts, ch 1071, §5; 2007 Acts, ch 59, §21, 38; 2007 Acts, ch 190, §14; 2008 Acts, ch 1115, §84; 2010 Acts, ch 1060, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 110, §239A.6Technical infractions notice.1If the state commissioner or county commissioner becomes aware of an apparent technical violation of a provision of chapters 39 through 53, the state commissioner or county commissioner may administratively provide a written notice and letter of instruction to the responsible person regarding proper compliance procedures.2If the state commissioner sends a notice of such a technical infraction to a county commissioner, the state commissioner may require a written explanation of the occurrence, and measures that the person took to redress the issues contained within the notice. 3aUpon issuance of a technical infraction to a county commissioner, the state commissioner shall also impose a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars to be deposited in the general fund.bA county commissioner shall pay a fine issued pursuant to this section or file an appeal pursuant to chapter 17A within sixty days. A county commissioner who fails to pay a fine that was not dismissed pursuant to chapter 17A shall be suspended from office for a period not to exceed two years pursuant to sections 66.7 and 66.8.cIf a county commissioner is suspended pursuant to paragraph “b”, the state commissioner shall direct the deputy of the county commissioner to oversee the functions of the office until the suspension is revoked or the office is vacated and a successor is elected. The state commissioner may direct the state commissioner’s staff to assist in the performance of the duties of the county commissioner.4Upon issuing a technical infraction, the state commissioner shall immediately inform the attorney general if the apparent violation constitutes or may constitute election misconduct under this chapter.2002 Acts, ch 1071, §6; 2019 Acts, ch 148, §9, 33; 2021 Acts, ch 12, §9, 10, 73; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2061, 207339A.7Election misconduct investigation.1The county sheriff, or other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, shall investigate allegations of election misconduct reported to the attorney general. Election misconduct by an election official shall also be investigated for prosecution under chapter 721.2Upon the completion of an investigation required by this section, the county sheriff, or other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction, shall submit the results of the investigation, including the report from the law enforcement agency, to the attorney general and the state commissioner, and the attorney general shall explain whether the attorney general will pursue charges. Any information that is requested by or in the possession of the state commissioner pursuant to this chapter remains a confidential record pursuant to section 22.7, subsection 5.2021 Acts, ch 12, §11, 73; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2062, 2073; 2025 Acts, ch 123, §48