House File 113 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 113 BY HUNTER A BILL FOR An Act allowing registered voters to make applications for 1 absentee ballots through electronic means and making 2 penalties applicable. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1209YH (3) 86 aw/sc

H.F. 113 Section 1. Section 47.2, Code 2015, is amended by adding the 1 following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 7. The commissioner shall provide for 3 the submission of electronic absentee ballot applications on 4 the commissioner’s internet site pursuant to section 53.2, 5 subsection 1, paragraph “c” . 6 Sec. 2. Section 53.2, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended by 7 adding the following new paragraph: 8 NEW PARAGRAPH . c. A registered voter may apply to the 9 commissioner for an absentee ballot through electronic means 10 either through electronic mail to the commissioner or through 11 the commissioner’s internet site. An electronic application 12 for an absentee ballot must be received by the commissioner no 13 later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election. An 14 electronic application for an absentee ballot received by the 15 commissioner more than seventy days prior to the date of the 16 election shall be retained by the commissioner and processed in 17 the same manner as an electronic application received not more 18 than seventy days before the date of the election. 19 Sec. 3. Section 53.2, subsection 4, Code 2015, is amended 20 to read as follows: 21 4. a. Each application shall contain the name and signature 22 of the registered voter, the registered voter’s date of birth, 23 the address at which the voter is registered to vote, and the 24 name or date of the election for which the absentee ballot is 25 requested, and such other information as may be necessary to 26 determine the correct absentee ballot for the registered voter. 27 If insufficient information has been provided, either on the 28 prescribed form or on an application created by the applicant, 29 the commissioner shall, by the best means available, obtain the 30 additional necessary information. 31 b. In addition to the other requirements of this section: 32 (1) An application received pursuant to subsection 1, 33 paragraph “a” or “b” , shall contain the signature of the 34 registered voter. 35 -1- LSB 1209YH (3) 86 aw/sc 1/ 3

H.F. 113 (2) An application received pursuant to subsection 1, 1 paragraph “c” , shall include at least one of the following: 2 (a) The Iowa driver’s license number of the registered 3 voter. 4 (b) The Iowa nonoperator’s identification card number of 5 the registered voter. 6 (c) The last four numerals of the registered voter’s social 7 security number. 8 EXPLANATION 9 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 10 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 11 This bill allows eligible electors to make applications for 12 absentee ballots through electronic means. Under the bill, a 13 registered voter may apply to the commissioner for an absentee 14 ballot either through electronic mail or through the county 15 commissioner of election’s internet site. 16 An electronic application for an absentee ballot must be 17 received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the 18 election. If the commissioner receives such an application 19 more than 70 days prior to the date of the election, the 20 commissioner is required to retain the application and process 21 it in the same manner as an electronic application received 22 not more than 70 days before the date of the election. These 23 provisions are the same as those for written applications under 24 current law. 25 An electronic application for an absentee ballot is 26 required to contain all of the same information as a written 27 application, except that, in lieu of the registered voter’s 28 signature, an electronic application is required to include 29 the registered voter’s Iowa driver’s license number, Iowa 30 nonoperator’s identification card number, or the last four 31 numerals of the registered voter’s social security number. 32 Under current law, a person commits election misconduct 33 in the first degree if the person makes a false or untrue 34 statement in an application for an absentee ballot or makes or 35 -2- LSB 1209YH (3) 86 aw/sc 2/ 3

H.F. 113 signs a false certification or affidavit in connection with 1 an absentee ballot. Election misconduct in the first degree 2 is a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by 3 confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least 4 $750 but not more than $7,500. 5 -3- LSB 1209YH (3) 86 aw/sc 3/ 3