House File 320 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON STATE
GOVERNMENT
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 195)
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 1572HV 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 eighteen years of age on the date of the
1 6 general election. Completed registration forms shall be
1 7 accepted from registrants who are at least seventeen and
1 8 one=half years of age; however,. For all elections except
1 9 primary elections, the registration shall not be effective
1 10 until the registrant reaches the age of eighteen. The
1 11 commissioner of registration shall ensure that the birth date
1 12 shown on the registration form is at least seventeen and
1 13 one=half years earlier than the date the registration is
1 14 processed.
1 15 Sec. 2. Section 48A.11, subsection 3, paragraph c, Code
1 16 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 17 c. "If you checked 'no' in response to either of these
1 18 questions, do not complete this form. However, for purposes
1 19 of voting in a primary election, you may complete this form if
1 20 you will be at least eighteen years of age on the date of the
1 21 general election."
1 22 Sec. 3. Section 48A.26, subsection 9, Code 2009, is
1 23 amended to read as follows:
1 24 9. When a person who is at least seventeen and one=half
1 25 years of age but less than eighteen years of age registers to
1 26 vote, the commissioner shall maintain a record of the
1 27 registration so as to clearly indicate that it will not take
1 28 effect until the registrant's eighteenth birthday and that the
1 29 person is registered and qualifies to vote at any election
1 30 held on or after that date. However, for purposes of voting
1 31 in a primary election, the registration shall take effect
1 32 immediately if the person will be at least eighteen years of
1 33 age on the date of the general election.
1 34 Sec. 4. Section 49.81, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code
1 35 2009, is amended to read as follows:
2 1 a. (1) The individual envelopes used for each provisional
2 2 ballot cast pursuant to subsection 1 shall have space for the
2 3 voter's name, date of birth, and address and shall have
2 4 printed on them the following:
2 5 I am a United States citizen, at least eighteen years of
2 6 age or, for purposes of voting in the primary election, I will
2 7 be at least eighteen years of age on the date of the general
2 8 election. I believe I am a registered voter of this county
2 9 and I am eligible to vote in this election.
2 10 ............................
2 11 (signature of voter) (date)
2 12 (2) The following information is to be provided by the
2 13 precinct election official:
2 14 Reason for casting provisional ballot:
2 15 ...............................................................
2 16 ...............................................................
2 17 ............................
2 18 (signature of precinct
2 19 election official)
2 20 EXPLANATION
2 21 This bill allows a registered voter who is not 18 years of
2 22 age to vote in a primary election if the voter will be at
2 23 least 18 years of age on the date of the general election.
2 24 Current law allows an eligible elector who is at least 17 and
2 25 one=half years of age to register to vote, but the
2 26 registration does not become effective until the registrant
2 27 turns 18 years of age.
2 28 LSB 1572HV 83
2 29 sc/nh/14