Senate
File
2202
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
2202
BY
COMMITTEE
ON
STATE
GOVERNMENT
(SUCCESSOR
TO
SSB
3056)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
city
elections.
1
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
2
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5564SV
(2)
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S.F.
2202
Section
1.
Section
44.4,
subsection
1,
Code
2014,
is
amended
1
to
read
as
follows:
2
1.
Nominations
made
pursuant
to
this
chapter
and
chapter
3
45
which
are
required
to
be
filed
in
the
office
of
the
state
4
commissioner
shall
be
filed
in
that
office
not
more
than
5
ninety-nine
days
nor
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
eighty-first
6
day
before
the
date
of
the
general
election
to
be
held
in
7
November.
Nominations
made
for
a
special
election
called
8
pursuant
to
section
69.14
shall
be
filed
by
5:00
p.m.
not
less
9
than
twenty-five
days
before
the
date
of
an
election
called
10
upon
at
least
forty
days’
notice
and
not
less
than
fourteen
11
days
before
the
date
of
an
election
called
upon
at
least
12
eighteen
days’
notice.
Nominations
made
for
a
special
election
13
called
pursuant
to
section
69.14A
shall
be
filed
by
5:00
p.m.
14
not
less
than
twenty-five
days
before
the
date
of
the
election.
15
Nominations
made
pursuant
to
this
chapter
and
chapter
45
which
16
are
required
to
be
filed
in
the
office
of
the
commissioner
17
shall
be
filed
in
that
office
not
more
than
ninety-two
days
18
nor
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
sixty-ninth
day
before
the
19
date
of
the
general
election.
Nominations
made
pursuant
to
20
this
chapter
or
chapter
45
for
city
office
shall
be
filed
not
21
more
than
seventy-two
days
nor
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
22
forty-seventh
day
before
the
city
election
with
the
city
clerk
23
county
commissioner
of
elections
responsible
under
section
47.2
24
for
conducting
elections
held
for
the
city
,
who
shall
process
25
them
as
provided
by
law.
26
Sec.
2.
Section
44.4,
subsection
2,
paragraph
a,
27
subparagraphs
(2)
and
(3),
Code
2014,
are
amended
to
read
as
28
follows:
29
(2)
Those
filed
with
the
commissioner,
not
less
than
30
sixty-four
days
before
the
date
of
the
election
,
except
as
31
provided
in
subparagraph
(3)
.
32
(3)
Those
filed
with
the
city
clerk
commissioner
for
an
33
elective
city
office
,
at
least
forty-two
days
before
the
34
regularly
scheduled
or
special
city
election.
However,
for
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those
cities
that
may
be
required
to
hold
a
primary
election,
1
at
least
sixty-three
days
before
the
regularly
scheduled
or
2
special
city
election.
3
Sec.
3.
Section
44.7,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
4
follows:
5
44.7
Hearing
before
commissioner.
6
Objections
Except
as
otherwise
provided
in
section
44.8,
7
objections
filed
with
the
commissioner
shall
be
considered
by
8
the
county
auditor,
county
treasurer,
and
county
attorney,
9
and
a
majority
decision
shall
be
final
;
but
.
However,
if
the
10
objection
is
to
the
certificate
of
nomination
of
one
or
more
11
of
the
above
named
county
officers,
the
officer
or
officers
12
objected
to
shall
not
pass
upon
the
objection,
but
their
places
13
shall
be
filled,
respectively,
by
the
chairperson
of
the
board
14
of
supervisors,
the
sheriff,
and
the
county
recorder.
15
Sec.
4.
Section
44.8,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
16
follows:
17
44.8
Hearing
before
mayor.
18
1.
Objections
filed
with
the
city
clerk
pursuant
to
19
section
362.4
or
with
the
commissioner
for
an
elective
city
20
office
shall
be
considered
by
the
mayor
and
clerk
and
one
21
member
of
the
council
chosen
by
the
council
by
ballot,
and
22
a
majority
decision
shall
be
final
;
but
.
However,
if
the
23
objection
is
to
the
certificate
of
nomination
of
either
of
24
those
city
officials,
that
official
shall
not
pass
upon
said
25
the
objection,
but
the
official’s
place
shall
be
filled
by
a
26
member
of
the
council
against
whom
no
such
objection
exists,
27
chosen
as
above
provided.
28
2.
The
hearing
shall
be
held
within
twenty-four
hours
of
the
29
receipt
of
the
objection
if
a
primary
election
must
be
held
for
30
the
office
sought
by
the
candidate
against
whom
the
objection
31
has
been
filed.
32
Sec.
5.
Section
44.9,
subsections
2
and
6,
Code
2014,
are
33
amended
to
read
as
follows:
34
2.
In
the
office
of
the
proper
commissioner,
at
least
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sixty-four
days
before
the
date
of
the
election
,
except
as
1
otherwise
provided
in
subsection
6
.
2
6.
In
the
office
of
the
proper
city
clerk
commissioner
,
at
3
least
forty-two
days
before
the
regularly
scheduled
or
special
4
city
election.
However,
for
those
cities
that
may
be
required
5
to
hold
a
primary
election,
at
least
sixty-three
days
before
a
6
regularly
scheduled
or
special
city
election.
7
Sec.
6.
Section
44.11,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
8
follows:
9
44.11
Vacancies
filled.
10
If
a
candidate
named
under
this
chapter
withdraws
before
the
11
deadline
established
in
section
44.9
,
declines
a
nomination,
12
or
dies
before
election
day,
or
if
a
certificate
of
nomination
13
is
held
insufficient
or
inoperative
by
the
officer
with
whom
14
it
is
required
to
be
filed,
or
in
case
any
objection
made
15
to
a
certificate
of
nomination,
or
to
the
eligibility
of
any
16
candidate
named
in
the
certificate,
is
sustained
by
the
board
17
appointed
to
determine
such
questions,
the
vacancy
or
vacancies
18
may
be
filled
by
the
convention,
or
caucus,
or
in
such
manner
19
as
such
convention
or
caucus
has
previously
provided.
The
20
vacancy
or
vacancies
shall
be
filled
not
less
than
seventy-four
21
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
to
22
be
filed
with
the
state
commissioner,
not
less
than
sixty-four
23
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
24
to
be
filed
with
the
commissioner,
not
less
than
thirty-five
25
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
26
to
be
filed
in
the
office
of
the
school
board
secretary,
27
and
not
less
than
forty-two
days
before
the
election
in
the
28
case
of
nominations
required
to
be
filed
with
the
city
clerk
29
commissioner
for
city
elections
.
30
Sec.
7.
Section
372.13,
subsection
2,
paragraph
a,
Code
31
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
32
a.
(1)
By
appointment
by
the
remaining
members
of
the
33
council,
except
that
if
the
remaining
members
do
not
constitute
34
a
quorum
of
the
full
membership,
paragraph
“b”
shall
be
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followed.
The
appointment
shall
be
made
within
sixty
days
1
after
the
vacancy
occurs
and
shall
be
for
the
period
until
the
2
next
pending
election
as
defined
in
section
69.12
,
and
shall
3
be
made
within
forty
days
after
the
vacancy
occurs
regular
4
city
election
described
in
section
376.1,
unless
there
is
an
5
intervening
special
election
in
that
city,
in
which
event
6
the
election
for
the
office
shall
be
placed
on
the
ballot
7
at
such
special
election
.
If
the
council
fails
to
make
an
8
appointment
within
sixty
days
as
required
by
this
subsection,
9
the
city
clerk
shall
give
notice
of
the
vacancy
to
the
county
10
commissioner
and
the
county
commissioner
shall
call
a
special
11
election
to
fill
the
vacancy
at
the
earliest
practicable
date
12
but
no
fewer
than
thirty-two
days
after
the
notice
is
received
13
by
the
county
commissioner.
14
(2)
If
the
council
chooses
to
proceed
under
this
paragraph,
15
it
shall
publish
notice
in
the
manner
prescribed
by
section
16
362.3
,
stating
that
the
council
intends
to
fill
the
vacancy
17
by
appointment
but
that
the
electors
of
the
city
or
ward,
as
18
the
case
may
be,
have
the
right
to
file
a
petition
requiring
19
that
the
vacancy
be
filled
by
a
special
election.
The
council
20
may
publish
notice
in
advance
if
an
elected
official
submits
21
a
resignation
to
take
effect
at
a
future
date.
The
council
22
may
make
an
appointment
to
fill
the
vacancy
after
the
notice
23
is
published
or
after
the
vacancy
occurs,
whichever
is
later.
24
However,
if
within
fourteen
days
after
publication
of
the
25
notice
or
within
fourteen
days
after
the
appointment
is
made,
26
there
is
filed
with
the
city
clerk
a
petition
which
requests
a
27
special
election
to
fill
the
vacancy,
an
appointment
to
fill
28
the
vacancy
is
temporary
and
the
council
shall
call
a
special
29
election
to
fill
the
vacancy
permanently,
under
paragraph
“b”
.
30
The
number
of
signatures
of
eligible
electors
of
a
city
for
a
31
valid
petition
shall
be
determined
as
follows:
32
(1)
(a)
For
a
city
with
a
population
of
ten
thousand
or
33
less,
at
least
two
hundred
signatures
or
at
least
the
number
of
34
signatures
equal
to
fifteen
percent
of
the
voters
who
voted
for
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candidates
for
the
office
at
the
preceding
regular
election
at
1
which
the
office
was
on
the
ballot,
whichever
number
is
fewer.
2
(2)
(b)
For
a
city
with
a
population
of
more
than
ten
3
thousand
but
not
more
than
fifty
thousand,
at
least
one
4
thousand
signatures
or
at
least
the
number
of
signatures
equal
5
to
fifteen
percent
of
the
voters
who
voted
for
candidates
for
6
the
office
at
the
preceding
regular
election
at
which
the
7
office
was
on
the
ballot,
whichever
number
is
fewer.
8
(3)
(c)
For
a
city
with
a
population
of
more
than
fifty
9
thousand,
at
least
two
thousand
signatures
or
at
least
the
10
number
of
signatures
equal
to
ten
percent
of
the
voters
who
11
voted
for
candidates
for
the
office
at
the
preceding
regular
12
election
at
which
the
office
was
on
the
ballot,
whichever
13
number
is
fewer.
14
(4)
(d)
The
minimum
number
of
signatures
for
a
valid
15
petition
pursuant
to
subparagraphs
(1)
subparagraph
divisions
16
(a)
through
(3)
(c)
shall
not
be
fewer
than
ten.
In
17
determining
the
minimum
number
of
signatures
required,
if
at
18
the
last
preceding
election
more
than
one
position
was
to
be
19
filled
for
the
office
in
which
the
vacancy
exists,
the
number
20
of
voters
who
voted
for
candidates
for
the
office
shall
be
21
determined
by
dividing
the
total
number
of
votes
cast
for
the
22
office
by
the
number
of
seats
to
be
filled.
23
Sec.
8.
Section
376.4,
subsection
1,
paragraph
a,
Code
2014,
24
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
25
a.
An
eligible
elector
of
a
city
may
become
a
candidate
26
for
an
elective
city
office
by
filing
with
the
city
clerk
27
county
commissioner
of
elections
responsible
under
section
47.2
28
for
conducting
elections
held
for
the
city
a
valid
petition
29
requesting
that
the
elector’s
name
be
placed
on
the
ballot
30
for
that
office.
The
petition
must
be
filed
not
more
than
31
seventy-one
days
and
not
less
than
forty-seven
days
before
the
32
date
of
the
election,
and
must
be
signed
by
eligible
electors
33
equal
in
number
to
at
least
two
percent
of
those
who
voted
to
34
fill
the
same
office
at
the
last
regular
city
election,
but
not
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less
than
ten
persons.
However,
for
those
cities
which
may
be
1
required
to
hold
a
primary
election,
the
petition
must
be
filed
2
not
more
than
eighty-five
days
and
not
less
than
sixty-eight
3
days
before
the
date
of
the
regular
city
election.
Nomination
4
petitions
shall
be
filed
not
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
last
5
day
for
filing.
6
Sec.
9.
Section
376.4,
subsections
3,
4,
and
5,
Code
2014,
7
are
amended
to
read
as
follows:
8
3.
If
the
city
clerk
is
not
readily
available
during
normal
9
office
hours,
the
city
clerk
shall
designate
other
employees
or
10
officials
of
the
city
who
are
ordinarily
available
to
accept
11
nomination
papers
under
this
section
.
On
the
final
date
for
12
filing
nomination
papers
the
office
of
the
city
clerk
county
13
commissioner
shall
remain
open
until
5:00
p.m.
14
4.
The
city
clerk
county
commissioner
shall
review
each
15
petition
and
affidavit
of
candidacy
for
completeness
following
16
the
standards
in
section
45.5
and
shall
accept
the
petition
17
for
filing
if
on
its
face
it
appears
to
have
the
requisite
18
number
of
signatures
and
if
it
is
timely
filed.
The
city
19
clerk
county
commissioner
shall
note
upon
each
petition
and
20
affidavit
accepted
for
filing
the
date
and
time
that
they
were
21
filed.
The
clerk
county
commissioner
shall
return
any
rejected
22
nomination
papers
to
the
person
on
whose
behalf
the
nomination
23
papers
were
filed.
24
5.
Nomination
papers
filed
with
the
city
clerk
county
25
commissioner
shall
be
available
for
public
inspection.
26
5A.
The
city
clerk
shall
deliver
all
nomination
papers
27
together
with
the
text
of
any
public
measure
being
submitted
by
28
the
city
council
to
the
electorate
to
the
county
commissioner
29
of
elections
on
the
day
following
no
later
than
the
last
day
30
on
which
nomination
petitions
can
be
filed,
and
not
later
than
31
5:00
p.m.
on
that
day.
32
Sec.
10.
Section
376.11,
subsections
3,
4,
and
5,
Code
2014,
33
are
amended
to
read
as
follows:
34
3.
In
city
primary
elections
any
person
who
receives
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write-in
votes
shall
execute
an
affidavit
in
substantially
the
1
form
required
by
section
45.3
,
and
file
it
with
the
county
2
commissioner
of
elections
or
the
city
clerk
not
later
than
5:00
3
p.m.
on
the
day
after
the
canvass
of
the
primary
election.
4
If
any
person
who
received
write-in
votes
fails
to
file
the
5
affidavit
at
the
time
required,
the
county
commissioner
shall
6
disregard
the
write-in
votes
cast
for
that
person.
A
notation
7
shall
be
made
on
the
abstract
of
votes
showing
which
persons
8
who
received
write-in
votes
filed
affidavits.
The
total
number
9
of
votes
cast
for
each
office
on
the
ballot
shall
be
amended
by
10
subtracting
the
write-in
votes
of
those
candidates
who
failed
11
to
file
the
affidavit.
It
is
not
necessary
for
a
candidate
12
whose
name
was
printed
upon
the
ballot
to
file
an
affidavit.
13
Of
the
remaining
candidates,
those
who
receive
the
highest
14
number
of
votes
to
the
extent
of
twice
the
number
of
unfilled
15
positions
shall
be
placed
on
the
ballot
for
the
regular
city
16
election
as
candidates
for
that
office.
17
4.
In
cities
in
which
the
city
council
has
chosen
a
runoff
18
election
in
lieu
of
a
primary,
if
a
person
who
was
elected
19
by
write-in
votes
chooses
not
to
accept
the
office
by
filing
20
a
resignation
notice
with
the
city
clerk
or
commissioner
of
21
elections
not
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
day
following
the
22
canvass,
all
remaining
persons
who
received
write-in
votes
and
23
who
wish
to
be
considered
candidates
for
the
runoff
election
24
shall
execute
an
affidavit
in
substantially
the
form
required
25
by
section
45.3
and
file
it
with
the
county
commissioner
or
26
the
city
clerk
not
later
than
5:00
p.m.
of
the
fourth
day
27
following
the
canvass.
If
a
person
receiving
write-in
votes
28
fails
to
file
the
affidavit
at
the
time
required,
the
county
29
commissioner
of
elections
shall
disregard
the
write-in
votes
30
cast
for
that
person.
The
abstract
of
votes
shall
be
amended
31
to
show
that
the
person
who
was
declared
elected
declined
the
32
office
and
a
notation
shall
be
made
next
to
the
names
of
those
33
persons
who
did
not
file
the
affidavit.
A
runoff
election
34
shall
be
held
with
the
remaining
candidates
who
have
the
35
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highest
number
of
votes
to
the
extent
of
twice
the
number
of
1
unfilled
positions.
2
5.
In
a
city
in
which
the
council
has
chosen
a
runoff
3
election,
if
no
person
was
declared
elected
for
an
office,
all
4
persons
who
received
write-in
votes
shall
execute
an
affidavit
5
in
substantially
the
form
required
by
section
45.3
and
file
it
6
with
the
county
commissioner
of
elections
or
the
city
clerk
not
7
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
day
following
the
canvass
of
votes.
8
If
any
person
who
received
write-in
votes
fails
to
file
the
9
affidavit,
the
county
commissioner
of
elections
shall
disregard
10
the
write-in
votes
cast
for
that
person.
The
abstract
of
votes
11
shall
be
amended
to
note
which
of
the
write-in
candidates
12
failed
to
file
the
affidavit.
A
runoff
election
shall
be
held
13
with
the
remaining
candidates
who
have
the
highest
number
of
14
votes
to
the
extent
of
twice
the
number
of
unfilled
positions.
15
EXPLANATION
16
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
17
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
18
This
bill
relates
to
city
elections.
19
The
bill
requires
that
if
a
vacancy
in
an
elective
city
20
office
is
filled
by
appointment
of
the
remaining
members
of
21
the
city
council,
that
such
appointment
be
for
the
period
22
until
the
next
regular
city
election,
as
defined
in
statute.
23
If,
however,
there
is
an
intervening
special
election
in
that
24
city,
then
the
election
for
the
office
shall
be
placed
on
the
25
ballot
at
the
special
election.
The
bill
requires
that
if
26
an
appointment
is
not
made
within
60
days
after
the
vacancy
27
occurs,
the
county
commissioner
of
elections
shall
call
a
28
special
election
to
fill
the
vacancy.
29
The
bill
further
requires
that
nomination
petitions
and
30
affidavits
of
candidacy
for
elective
city
office,
withdrawals
31
of
such
nominations,
and
objections
to
nominations
be
filed
32
with
the
county
commissioner
of
elections
responsible
for
33
conducting
elections
for
the
city.
34
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