H.F. 2049 Section 1. Section 53.17, Code 2022, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 2A. The voter shall include in the sealed 3 return envelope a photocopy of a document sufficient to satisfy 4 the voter identification requirements of section 49.78. 5 Sec. 2. Section 53.23, subsection 5, Code 2022, is amended 6 to read as follows: 7 5. The special precinct election board shall preserve 8 the secrecy of all absentee and provisional ballots. After 9 the affidavits on the envelopes have been reviewed and the 10 qualifications of the persons casting the ballots have 11 been determined, including through the verification of the 12 included voter identification document as provided in section 13 49.78, those that have been accepted for counting shall be 14 opened. The ballots shall be removed from the affidavit 15 envelopes or return envelopes marked with the affidavit, as 16 applicable, without being unfolded or examined, and then shall 17 be thoroughly intermingled, after which they shall be unfolded 18 and tabulated. If secrecy folders or envelopes are used with 19 provisional paper ballots, the ballots shall be removed from 20 the secrecy folders after the ballots have been intermingled. 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 voter identification requirements for 25 absent voters. The bill requires an absent voter who returns 26 a completed absentee ballot to the commissioner’s office, by 27 mail, or to a ballot drop box to include with the completed 28 ballot a photocopy of a voter identification document that 29 would satisfy the voter identification requirements for a voter 30 voting in person on election day. The bill also requires the 31 members of the absentee ballot and special voters precinct 32 board to verify the validity of the identification in the same 33 manner as a precinct election official verifying the identity 34 of a voter voting in person prior to counting a ballot. 35 -1- LSB 5107YH (2) 89 ss/jh 1/ 1