House File 2077 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY JACOBS
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to persons who attest by oath to the identity and
2 residency of persons seeking to register to vote and vote
3 after the regular registration deadline and making a penalty
4 applicable.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
6 TLSB 5243YH 82
7 sc/rj/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 48A.7A, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code
1 2 Supplement 2007, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 c. In lieu of paragraph "b", a person wishing to vote may
1 4 establish identity and residency in the precinct by written
1 5 oath of a person who is registered to vote in the precinct and
1 6 who registered before the deadline for registering in section
1 7 48A.9, subsection 1. The registered voter's oath shall attest
1 8 to the stated identity of the person wishing to register to
1 9 vote and vote and that the person is a current resident of the
1 10 precinct. The oath must be signed by the attesting registered
1 11 voter in the presence of the appropriate precinct election
1 12 official. A registered voter who has signed an oath on
1 13 election day as provided in this paragraph attesting to a
1 14 person's the identity and residency as provided in this
1 15 paragraph of a person seeking to register to vote and vote in
1 16 an election on election day, in person at the commissioner's
1 17 office, or at a satellite absentee voting station, is
1 18 prohibited from signing any further oaths as provided in this
1 19 paragraph on that day for that election.
1 20 Sec. 2. Section 48A.7A, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code
1 21 Supplement 2007, is amended to read as follows:
1 22 b. The form of the written oath required of a person
1 23 attesting to the identity and residency of the registrant
1 24 shall read as follows:
1 25 I, ..... (name of registered voter), do solemnly swear or
1 26 affirm all of the following:
1 27 I am a preregistered registered voter in this precinct or I
1 28 registered to vote in this precinct today, and a registered
1 29 voter did not sign an oath on my behalf, and I registered to
1 30 vote ten days or more before election day (or eleven days if
1 31 the election is not a primary or general election).
1 32 I am a resident of the ... precinct, ... ward or township,
1 33 city of ....., county of ....., Iowa.
1 34 I reside at ....... (street address) in ..... (city or
1 35 township).
2 1 I personally know ..... (name of registrant), and I
2 2 personally know that ..... (name of registrant) is a resident
2 3 of the ... precinct, ..... ward or township, city of .....,
2 4 county of ....., Iowa.
2 5 I have not signed an oath attesting to any other person's
2 6 identity or residency for purposes of registering to vote and
2 7 voting in this election.
2 8 I understand that any false statement in this oath is a
2 9 class "D" felony punishable by no more than five years in
2 10 confinement and a fine of at least seven hundred fifty dollars
2 11 but not more than seven thousand five hundred dollars.
2 12 .............................
2 13 Signature of Registered Voter
2 14 Subscribed and sworn before me on .. (date).
2 15 ..............................
2 16 Signature of Precinct Election Official
2 17 EXPLANATION
2 18 This bill prohibits that a registered voter, who is
2 19 attesting by written oath to the identity and residency of a
2 20 person wishing to register to vote and vote after the
2 21 registration deadline, from signing more than one oath in an
2 22 election. The bill also provides that the attestor must have
2 23 registered to vote before the registration deadline (10 days
2 24 before the general and primary elections and 11 days before
2 25 all other elections). Current law provides that it is a class
2 26 "D" felony for an attestor to make a false statement in an
2 27 oath. A class "D" felony is punishable by confinement for no
2 28 more than five years and a fine of at least $750 but nor more
2 29 than $7,500.
2 30 LSB 5243YH 82
2 31 sc/rj/14