House File 239 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY SMITH Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to delivery of absentee ballots to certain health 2 care facilities and hospitals. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1173HH 83 5 sc/nh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 53.22, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 1 2 2009, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 1 3 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (1A) Notwithstanding subparagraph (1) 1 4 and subsection 3, the commissioner shall, upon receipt of an 1 5 application under this section, contact the applicant by 1 6 telephone to determine whether the applicant wishes to have 1 7 the absentee ballot mailed to the applicant. If the applicant 1 8 wishes to have the absentee ballot delivered by mail, the 1 9 commissioner shall proceed under section 53.8, subsections 1 1 10 and 2. If the commissioner is unable to make contact with the 1 11 applicant by telephone within four days of receiving the 1 12 application, the applicant shall be delivered the absentee 1 13 ballot in the manner provided in subparagraph (1). If section 1 14 53.8, subsection 3, applies to an application received by the 1 15 commissioner, the commissioner shall not mail the notice 1 16 required under section 53.8, subsection 3, until the 1 17 commissioner has contacted the applicant by telephone or after 1 18 four days following the receipt of the application, whichever 1 19 is earlier. 1 20 EXPLANATION 1 21 Under current law, a resident of a health care facility or 1 22 hospital who makes application for an absentee ballot is, in 1 23 most circumstances, delivered the ballot by two special 1 24 precinct election officials appointed by the county 1 25 commissioner of elections. This bill provides that, upon 1 26 receipt of an application for an absentee ballot by a resident 1 27 of a health care facility or hospital, the commissioner shall 1 28 attempt to contact the applicant by telephone to determine 1 29 whether the applicant wishes to have the absentee ballot 1 30 delivered by mail. If the commissioner is unable to make 1 31 telephone contact with the applicant within four days of 1 32 receipt of the application, the ballot shall be delivered to 1 33 the applicant by the two special precinct election officials. 1 34 LSB 1173HH 83 1 35 sc/nh/8