House File 195 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY FORD
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the age at which a registered voter is
2 eligible to vote in a primary election.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1572YH 83
5 sc/nh/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 48A.5, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
1 2 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 c. Be at least eighteen years of age. However, for
1 4 purposes of voting in a primary election, an eligible elector
1 5 shall be at least seventeen and one=half years of age.
1 6 Completed registration forms shall be accepted from
1 7 registrants who are at least seventeen and one=half years of
1 8 age; however,. For all elections except primary elections,
1 9 the registration shall not be effective until the registrant
1 10 reaches the age of eighteen. The commissioner of registration
1 11 shall ensure that the birth date shown on the registration
1 12 form is at least seventeen and one=half years earlier than the
1 13 date the registration is processed.
1 14 Sec. 2. Section 48A.11, subsection 3, paragraph c, Code
1 15 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 16 c. "If you checked 'no' in response to either of these
1 17 questions, do not complete this form. However, for purposes
1 18 of voting in a primary election, you may complete this form if
1 19 you are at least seventeen and one=half years of age."
1 20 Sec. 3. Section 48A.26, subsection 9, Code 2009, is
1 21 amended to read as follows:
1 22 9. When a person who is at least seventeen and one=half
1 23 years of age but less than eighteen years of age registers to
1 24 vote, the commissioner shall maintain a record of the
1 25 registration so as to clearly indicate that it will not take
1 26 effect until the registrant's eighteenth birthday and that the
1 27 person is registered and qualifies to vote at any election
1 28 held on or after that date. However, for purposes of voting
1 29 in a primary election, the registration shall take effect
1 30 immediately.
1 31 Sec. 4. Section 49.81, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code
1 32 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 33 a. (1) The individual envelopes used for each provisional
1 34 ballot cast pursuant to subsection 1 shall have space for the
1 35 voter's name, date of birth, and address and shall have
2 1 printed on them the following:
2 2 I am a United States citizen, at least eighteen years of
2 3 age or seventeen and one=half years of age in the case of a
2 4 primary election. I believe I am a registered voter of this
2 5 county and I am eligible to vote in this election.
2 6 ............................
2 7 (signature of voter) (date)
2 8 (2) The following information is to be provided by the
2 9 precinct election official:
2 10 Reason for casting provisional ballot:
2 11 ...............................................................
2 12 ...............................................................
2 13 ............................
2 14 (signature of precinct
2 15 election official)
2 16 EXPLANATION
2 17 This bill allows a registered voter who is at least 17 and
2 18 one=half years of age to vote in a primary election. Current
2 19 law allows an eligible elector who is at least 17 and one=half
2 20 years of age to register to vote, but the registration does
2 21 not become effective until the registrant turns 18 years of
2 22 age.
2 23 LSB 1572YH 83
2 24 sc/nh/14