House
File
194
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
194
BY
HUNTER
,
OURTH
,
T.
TAYLOR
,
ABDUL-SAMAD
,
STECKMAN
,
BROWN-POWERS
,
McCONKEY
,
WINCKLER
,
STAED
,
KACENA
,
and
KEARNS
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
providing
for
the
registration
of
eligible
electors
1
to
vote
upon
review
of
electronic
records
received
from
2
driver’s
license
and
nonoperator’s
identification
card
3
applications,
and
including
effective
date
provisions.
4
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
5
TLSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
H.F.
194
Section
1.
Section
48A.7,
Code
2017,
is
amended
to
read
as
1
follows:
2
48A.7
Registration
in
person.
3
An
eligible
elector
may
register
to
vote
by
appearing
4
personally
and
completing
a
voter
registration
form
at
the
5
office
of
the
commissioner
in
the
county
in
which
the
person
6
resides,
at
a
motor
vehicle
driver’s
license
station,
including
7
any
county
treasurer’s
office
that
is
participating
in
county
8
issuance
of
driver’s
licenses
under
chapter
321M
,
or
at
any
9
voter
registration
agency.
A
For
paper
registration
forms,
10
a
separate
voter
registration
form
shall
be
signed
by
each
11
individual
registrant.
12
Sec.
2.
Section
48A.8,
subsection
1,
Code
2017,
is
amended
13
to
read
as
follows:
14
1.
An
eligible
elector
may
request
that
a
voter
registration
15
form
be
mailed
to
the
elector.
The
completed
form
may
be
16
mailed
or
delivered
by
the
registrant
or
the
registrant’s
17
designee
to
the
commissioner
in
the
county
where
the
person
18
resides
or
to
the
state
commissioner
of
elections
for
a
19
program
participant,
as
provided
in
section
9E.6
.
A
For
paper
20
registration
forms,
a
separate
voter
registration
form
shall
be
21
signed
by
each
individual
registrant.
22
Sec.
3.
Section
48A.18,
subsections
1
and
3,
Code
2017,
are
23
amended
to
read
as
follows:
24
1.
Each
state
motor
vehicle
driver’s
license
application,
25
including
any
renewal
application
or
application
for
a
26
nonoperator’s
identification
card,
submitted
to
the
office
27
of
driver
services
of
the
state
department
of
transportation
28
shall
serve
as
an
application
for
voter
registration
unless
29
the
commissioner
of
registration
determines
that
the
applicant
30
is
not
an
eligible
elector
or
the
applicant
declines
to
31
register
to
vote
after
receiving
notification
under
subsection
32
4A
.
A
completed
application
or
paper
voter
registration
33
form
submitted
to
the
office
of
driver
services
of
the
state
34
department
of
transportation
shall
be
considered
to
update
any
35
-1-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
1/
9
H.F.
194
previous
voter
registration
by
the
registrant.
1
3.
Information
relating
to
the
refusal
decision
of
an
2
applicant
for
a
driver’s
license
to
apply
decline
to
register
3
to
vote
shall
not
be
used
for
any
purpose
other
than
voter
4
registration.
5
Sec.
4.
Section
48A.18,
subsection
4,
Code
2017,
is
amended
6
by
striking
the
subsection
and
inserting
in
lieu
thereof
the
7
following:
8
4.
a.
The
state
voter
registration
commission
shall
9
establish
schedules
by
which
the
department
of
transportation
10
shall
transmit
to
the
state
registrar
of
voters
electronic
11
records
containing
the
legal
name,
age,
residence,
and
12
citizenship
information
for,
and
the
electronic
signature
of,
13
each
person
submitting
an
application
under
this
section.
14
b.
The
state
voter
registration
commission
shall
establish
15
schedules
by
which
the
state
registrar
of
voters
shall
make
16
accessible
or
transmit
electronic
records
and
electronic
17
signatures
received
under
paragraph
“a”
to
the
appropriate
18
commissioner
of
registration.
19
c.
The
state
voter
registration
commission
shall
establish
20
schedules
by
which
the
department
of
transportation
shall
21
transmit
any
completed
paper
registration
forms
to
the
22
appropriate
commissioner
of
registration.
23
d.
The
state
commissioner
of
elections
shall
adopt
rules,
24
consistent
with
section
9E.6,
for
the
registration
of
address
25
confidentiality
program
participants.
26
e.
The
state
voter
registration
commission
shall
adopt
27
rules
pursuant
to
chapter
17A
to
administer
and
interpret
this
28
section,
including
rules
to
establish
electronic
and
paper
29
forms
and
all
procedures
used
by
the
office
of
driver
services
30
for
voter
registration
purposes,
rules
to
establish
schedules
31
for
transmission
of
electronic
records,
electronic
signatures,
32
and
completed
paper
voter
registration
forms,
and
rules
and
33
forms
to
decline
being
registered
to
vote.
34
Sec.
5.
Section
48A.18,
Code
2017,
is
amended
by
adding
the
35
-2-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
2/
9
H.F.
194
following
new
subsection:
1
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
4A.
a.
(1)
Upon
receiving
the
electronic
2
record
for,
and
electronic
signature
of,
a
person
under
3
subsection
4,
the
state
registrar
of
voters
shall
transmit
or
4
otherwise
make
accessible
the
electronic
record
and
electronic
5
signature
of
the
person
to
the
commissioner
of
registration
6
of
the
county
where
the
person
resides.
Upon
reviewing
the
7
electronic
record
received
from
the
state
registrar
of
voters,
8
along
with
any
other
relevant
information,
the
commissioner
of
9
registration
shall
determine
if
a
person
is
an
eligible
elector
10
of
the
county.
If
the
commissioner
determines
that
a
person
is
11
an
eligible
elector
of
the
county
and
is
not
registered
to
vote
12
in
that
county,
the
commissioner
shall
notify
the
person
of
the
13
separate
processes
to
decline
being
registered
to
vote
or
to
14
declare
a
political
party
affiliation.
15
(2)
If
the
person
is
registered
to
vote
in
the
county,
the
16
commissioner
shall
use
the
electronic
record
and
information
to
17
update
the
person’s
voter
registration
if
appropriate.
18
b.
If
a
person
notified
under
paragraph
“a”
does
not
decline
19
to
be
registered
to
vote
within
twenty-one
calendar
days
after
20
the
commissioner
of
registration
issues
the
notification,
the
21
person’s
electronic
record
and
electronic
signature
shall
22
constitute
a
completed
voter
registration
form
under
section
23
48A.11,
and
the
commissioner
of
registration
shall
register
the
24
person
to
vote
in
that
county.
The
commissioner
shall
send
an
25
acknowledgment
pursuant
to
section
48A.26.
26
c.
A
commissioner
of
registration
shall
not
add
a
person
27
subject
to
registration
under
this
subsection
to
a
voter
28
registration
list
until
at
least
twenty-one
calendar
days
29
after
the
commissioner
has
issued
notification
to
the
person
30
as
described
in
paragraph
“a”
.
31
d.
The
electronic
record
and
electronic
signature,
received
32
under
this
subsection,
of
a
person
who
does
not
qualify
33
as
an
eligible
elector
shall
not
constitute
a
completed
34
voter
registration
form
under
section
48A.11
and
such
a
35
-3-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
3/
9
H.F.
194
person’s
application
for
a
driver’s
license
or
nonoperator’s
1
identification
card
shall
not
be
considered
to
be
a
voter
2
registration
application
for
purposes
of
section
39A.2,
3
subsection
1,
paragraph
“a”
.
4
Sec.
6.
Section
48A.21,
Code
2017,
is
amended
to
read
as
5
follows:
6
48A.21
Transmission
of
forms
from
agencies
and
driver’s
7
license
stations
.
8
The
state
registrar
of
voters
shall
adopt
administrative
9
rules
regulating
the
transmission
of
completed
voter
10
registration
forms
from
voter
registration
agencies
and
from
11
driver’s
license
stations,
including
county
treasurer’s
offices
12
participating
in
county
issuance
of
driver’s
licenses
under
13
chapter
321M
.
All
completed
voter
registration
applications
14
in
the
possession
of
a
voter
registration
agency
,
a
driver’s
15
license
station,
or
a
county
treasurer’s
office
that
is
16
participating
in
county
issuance
of
driver’s
licenses
at
5:00
17
p.m.
on
the
last
workday
of
each
week
shall
be
transmitted
18
to
the
location
designated
by
the
state
registrar
of
voters
19
by
rule.
Procedures
or
requirements
for
more
frequent
20
transmissions
may
be
specified
by
rule.
21
Sec.
7.
Section
48A.26,
subsection
1,
paragraph
b,
Code
22
2017,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
23
b.
(1)
For
a
voter
registration
form
or
change
of
24
information
in
a
voter
registration
record
submitted
at
a
25
precinct
caucus,
the
commissioner
shall
send
an
acknowledgment
26
within
forty-five
days
of
receipt
of
the
form
or
change
of
27
information.
28
(2)
For
a
voter
registration
application
or
change
of
29
information
in
a
voter
registration
record
completed
pursuant
30
to
section
48A.18,
subsection
4A,
the
commissioner
shall
send
31
an
acknowledgment
within
seven
working
days
of
the
person
being
32
registered
under
that
subsection.
33
Sec.
8.
Section
48A.26,
subsection
8,
Code
2017,
is
amended
34
to
read
as
follows:
35
-4-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
4/
9
H.F.
194
8.
An
A
completed
voter
registration
application,
1
improperly
transmitted
under
section
48A.18,
subsection
4A,
or
2
an
improperly
addressed
or
delivered
registration
form
shall
be
3
transmitted
or
forwarded
to
the
appropriate
county
commissioner
4
of
registration
within
two
working
days
after
it
is
received
by
5
any
other
official.
The
date
of
registration
shall
be
the
date
6
the
completed
application
or
registration
form
was
received
by
7
the
first
official.
If
the
registration
form
was
postmarked
8
fifteen
or
more
days
before
an
election
and
the
registration
9
form
was
received
by
the
first
official
after
the
close
of
10
registration,
the
registration
form
shall
be
considered
on
time
11
for
the
election.
12
Sec.
9.
Section
48A.36,
subsection
1,
Code
2017,
is
amended
13
to
read
as
follows:
14
1.
Voter
registration
agencies
and
the
office
of
driver
15
services
of
the
state
department
of
transportation
may
16
electronically
transmit
registration
data
to
the
state
17
registrar
of
voters,
who
shall
distribute
the
information,
18
electronically
or
otherwise,
to
the
appropriate
commissioner
19
in
accordance
with
rules
of
the
state
voter
registration
20
commission
and
the
state
registrar
of
voters.
The
office
of
21
driver
services
of
the
state
department
of
transportation
22
shall
electronically
transmit
registration
data
to
the
state
23
registrar
of
voters
as
required
pursuant
to
section
48A.18.
24
The
state
agency
originating
the
registration
data
shall
25
permanently
retain
an
electronic
copy
of
the
form
completed
26
by
the
registrant,
including
the
registrant’s
signature,
and
27
shall
develop
procedures
for
the
retrieval
and
printing
of
28
that
electronic
document.
A
printed
copy
of
an
electronic
29
registration
document
shall
be
made
only
upon
the
agency’s
30
receipt
of
a
court
order.
31
Sec.
10.
Section
331.557A,
subsection
5,
Code
2017,
is
32
amended
to
read
as
follows:
33
5.
Participate
in
voter
registration
according
to
the
34
terms
of
chapter
48A
,
and
submit
completed
voter
registration
35
-5-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
5/
9
H.F.
194
forms
to
the
state
registrar
of
voters
appropriate
county
1
commissioner
of
registration
.
2
Sec.
11.
EMERGENCY
RULES.
The
state
voter
registration
3
commission
and
the
department
of
transportation
may
adopt
4
emergency
rules
under
section
17A.4,
subsection
3,
and
section
5
17A.5,
subsection
2,
paragraph
“b”,
to
implement
the
provisions
6
of
this
Act
and
the
rules
shall
be
effective
immediately
upon
7
filing
unless
a
later
date
is
specified
in
the
rules.
Any
8
rules
adopted
in
accordance
with
this
section
shall
also
be
9
published
as
a
notice
of
intended
action
as
provided
in
section
10
17A.4.
11
Sec.
12.
IMPLEMENTATION
OF
ACT.
Section
25B.2,
subsection
12
3,
shall
not
apply
to
this
Act.
13
Sec.
13.
EFFECTIVE
UPON
ENACTMENT.
This
Act,
being
deemed
14
of
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
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
voter
registration
by
allowing
19
registration
of
eligible
electors
to
vote
following
review
20
of
electronic
records
received
from
driver’s
license
and
21
nonoperator’s
identification
card
applications
by
county
22
commissioners
of
registration
(county
auditors).
23
The
bill
requires
that
the
office
of
driver
services
of
the
24
department
of
transportation
transmit
to
the
state
registrar
of
25
voters
(the
secretary
of
state)
electronic
records
containing
26
the
legal
name,
age,
residence,
and
citizenship
information
27
for,
and
the
electronic
signature
of,
each
person
submitting
28
an
application
for
a
driver’s
license
or
nonoperator’s
29
identification
card,
or
any
renewal
application.
Current
Code
30
section
321.182
requires
that
an
application
for
a
license
31
or
card
include
an
applicant’s
full
name,
signature,
current
32
mailing
address,
current
residential
address,
date
of
birth,
33
social
security
number,
and
other
information.
Under
current
34
administrative
rules
of
the
state
department
of
transportation,
35
-6-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
6/
9
H.F.
194
an
applicant
for
a
license
or
card
is
required
to
provide
proof
1
of
lawful
status
in
the
United
States.
Also
under
current
2
administrative
rules,
a
person’s
signature
for
a
driver’s
3
license
or
nonoperator’s
identification
card
application
is
4
required
to
be
captured
electronically.
Under
current
law,
5
a
county
treasurer’s
office
participating
in
county
issuance
6
of
driver’s
licenses
is
required
to
participate
in
voter
7
registration
to
the
same
extent
as
a
license
facility
of
the
8
state
department
of
transportation.
9
The
bill
requires
the
state
registrar
of
voters
to
transmit
10
the
electronic
records
and
electronic
signatures
to
the
county
11
commissioner
of
registration
of
the
county
where
the
person
12
resides.
The
bill
requires
that
the
county
commissioner
review
13
the
electronic
record
and
any
other
relevant
information
to
14
determine
if
a
person
is
an
eligible
elector.
If
the
county
15
commissioner
determines
a
person
to
be
an
eligible
elector
16
and
the
person
is
not
registered
to
vote
in
the
county,
the
17
county
commissioner
is
required
to
notify
the
person
of
the
18
separate
processes
to
decline
to
register
to
vote
or
to
declare
19
a
political
party
affiliation.
If
a
notified
person
fails
to
20
decline
voter
registration
within
21
days
after
the
county
21
commissioner
issued
the
notification,
the
bill
provides
that
22
the
electronic
record
and
electronic
signature
shall
constitute
23
a
completed
voter
registration
form
for
that
person
and
the
24
bill
requires
the
county
commissioner
to
register
the
person
to
25
vote
in
that
county
and
send
the
person
an
acknowledgment
as
26
required
by
current
law.
27
The
bill
prohibits
a
county
commissioner
from
adding
a
28
person’s
name
to
a
voter
registration
list
until
at
least
21
29
days
after
the
commissioner
has
issued
notification
to
the
30
person.
The
bill
requires
that
a
county
commissioner
send
an
31
acknowledgment
of
registration
within
seven
business
days
of
32
registering
a
person
under
the
bill.
The
bill
also
provides
33
that
the
electronic
record
and
electronic
signature
of
a
person
34
who
does
not
qualify
as
an
eligible
elector
does
not
constitute
35
-7-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
7/
9
H.F.
194
a
completed
voter
registration
form.
Under
the
bill,
such
a
1
person
submitting
an
application
for
a
license
or
card
will
2
not
be
subject
to
charges
for
voter
registration
fraud
under
3
section
39A.2
for
submitting
such
an
application.
4
The
bill
also
grants
the
state
voter
registration
commission
5
the
authority
to
adopt
rules
to
administer
and
interpret
the
6
provisions
of
the
bill
relating
to
voter
registration
at
motor
7
vehicle
driver’s
license
stations.
If
interpretive
rulemaking
8
authority
is
clearly
vested
in
the
discretion
of
an
agency
by
9
statute,
the
applicable
judicial
standard
of
review
is
whether
10
the
rules
constitute
an
irrational,
illogical,
or
wholly
11
unjustifiable
interpretation
of
law
by
the
agency
(Code
section
12
17A.19(10)(l)).
If
interpretive
rulemaking
authority
is
not
13
clearly
vested
in
the
discretion
of
an
agency,
the
applicable
14
judicial
standard
of
review
is
whether
the
rules
constitute
an
15
erroneous
interpretation
of
law
(Code
section
17A.19(10)(c)).
16
The
bill
makes
changes
to
current
law
related
to
address
17
confidentiality
program
participants
under
Code
chapter
18
9E
by
requiring
the
state
registrar
to
adopt
rules
for
19
administration
of
registration
for
those
participants.
The
20
bill
maintains
current
law
to
allow
for
submission
of
a
paper
21
voter
registration
form
through
driver’s
license
offices.
The
22
bill
specifies
that
a
requirement
that
separate
registration
23
forms
be
signed
by
each
individual
registrant
only
applies
to
24
paper
registration
forms.
Under
the
bill,
driver’s
license
25
offices
are
required
to
transmit
voter
registration
forms
26
to
the
appropriate
county
commissioner
and
to
transmit
all
27
electronic
records
and
electronic
signatures
to
the
state
28
registrar
of
voters.
29
Under
current
law,
the
state
registrar
of
voters
is
30
required
to
establish
rules
regulating
transmission
of
voter
31
registration
forms
from
driver’s
license
stations.
Under
the
32
bill,
such
rules
are
required
to
be
established
by
the
state
33
commission.
34
The
bill
provides
that
the
state
voter
registration
35
-8-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
8/
9
H.F.
194
commission
and
the
department
of
transportation
may
adopt
1
emergency
rules
to
implement
the
provisions
of
the
bill.
2
The
bill
may
include
a
state
mandate
as
defined
in
Code
3
section
25B.3.
The
bill
makes
inapplicable
Code
section
25B.2,
4
subsection
3,
which
would
relieve
a
political
subdivision
from
5
complying
with
a
state
mandate
if
funding
for
the
cost
of
6
the
state
mandate
is
not
provided
or
specified.
Therefore,
7
political
subdivisions
are
required
to
comply
with
any
state
8
mandate
included
in
the
bill.
9
The
bill
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
10
-9-
LSB
1794YH
(3)
87
aw/sc
9/
9