House Study Bill 222
HOUSE FILE
BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON
STATE GOVERNMENT BILL
BY CHAIRPERSON MASCHER)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act providing for ongoing absentee voter status.
2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
3 TLSB 2508HC 83
4 sc/nh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 53.4 ONGOING ABSENTEE VOTER.
1 2 A registered voter applying for an absentee ballot under
1 3 section 53.2 may request to receive an absentee ballot for all
1 4 subsequent elections or for each subsequent general election
1 5 in which that person is eligible to vote and qualifies under
1 6 section 53.1. The state commissioner shall provide check
1 7 boxes on the prescribed form for this purpose. For all
1 8 subsequent elections or for each subsequent general election,
1 9 the county commissioner of elections shall automatically mail
1 10 an absentee ballot to the requesting voter, or automatically
1 11 deliver an absentee ballot if the requester is a confined
1 12 person pursuant to section 53.22. A voter's status as an
1 13 ongoing absentee voter shall be terminated upon the request of
1 14 the voter or by the county commissioner if the voter fails to
1 15 qualify under section 53.1 or if the voter fails to vote in a
1 16 subsequent general election.
1 17 EXPLANATION
1 18 This bill allows an absentee voter to receive absentee
1 19 ballots for all subsequent general elections without having to
1 20 reapply before each election. A person's status as an ongoing
1 21 absentee voter can be terminated by that person, by the county
1 22 commissioner of elections if the person fails to qualify as an
1 23 absentee voter, or if the voter fails to vote in a subsequent
1 24 general election.
1 25 LSB 2508HC 83
1 26 sc/nh/8