Senate File 2199 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2199 BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3037) (COMPANION TO HF 2147 BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT) A BILL FOR An Act relating to absentee voting by uniformed and overseas 1 citizens. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5237SV (1) 86 aw/sc

S.F. 2199 Section 1. Section 53.45, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 1 2016, is amended to read as follows: 2 b. The application for a special absentee ballot shall not 3 be filed earlier than ninety one hundred twenty days prior to 4 the general election. The special absentee ballot shall list 5 the offices and measures, if known, scheduled to appear on the 6 general election ballot. The eligible elector may use the 7 special absentee ballot to write in the name of any eligible 8 candidate for each office and may vote on any measure. 9 Sec. 2. Section 53.53, subsection 1, Code 2016, is amended 10 to read as follows: 11 1. Upon receipt of an official federal write-in ballot, the 12 commissioner shall examine the voter’s written declarations 13 on the envelope. If it appears that the voter is eligible to 14 vote under the provisions of this subchapter , has applied in a 15 timely fashion for an absentee ballot, and has complied with 16 all requirements for the federal write-in ballot, then the 17 federal write-in ballot is valid unless the an Iowa absentee 18 ballot is received from the voter in time to be counted. 19 Sec. 3. Section 53.53, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code 2016, 20 is amended by striking the paragraph. 21 EXPLANATION 22 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 23 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 24 This bill relates to absentee voting by uniformed and 25 overseas citizens. 26 Under current law, eligible electors may request and then 27 vote using a special absentee ballot for general elections if 28 the eligible elector will be residing, stationed, or working 29 outside of the continental United States and if the eligible 30 elector will be unable to vote and return a regular absentee 31 ballot through normal mail delivery. The bill extends the 32 allowable time for filing an application for a special absentee 33 ballot from 90 to 120 days. 34 Under current law, military and overseas voters are allowed 35 -1- LSB 5237SV (1) 86 aw/sc 1/ 2

S.F. 2199 to vote in primary and general elections, as well as certain 1 special elections, by voting and submitting a federal write-in 2 absentee ballot. The bill strikes current requirements 3 related to a voter’s submission of a regular absentee ballot 4 application for a voter’s federal write-in absentee ballot to 5 be counted. 6 -2- LSB 5237SV (1) 86 aw/sc 2/ 2