HF 148 (LSB 1767YH (5) 90)

HOUSE FILE 148

BY  M. THOMPSON, HENDERSON, HAYES, DIEKEN, THOMSON, SHERMAN, DETERMANN, CISNEROS, and STOLTENBERG

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to changes in party affiliation prior to a primary election.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 43.41, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   43.41  Change or declaration of party affiliation before primary.
   1.  Any registered voter who desires to change or declare a political party affiliation may, before the close of registration for the primary election no later than one hundred forty-seven days before the primary election, file a written declaration stating the change of party affiliation with the county commissioner of registration who shall enter a notation of such change on the registration records.
   2.  A registered voter shall not change or declare a political party affiliation between the day one hundred forty-six days before the primary election and the day of the general election.
    Sec. 2.  Section 43.43, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   43.43  Voter’s declaration of eligibility.
   Each person voting at a primary election shall sign a declaration of eligibility which shall be in substantially the following form:
   I do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a resident of the ........... precinct, ......... ward or township, city of ......, county of ......, Iowa.
   I am a registered voter. I have not voted and will not vote in any other precinct in this election.
   I am affiliated with the ...... party. If my current voter registration record indicates another party affiliation or no party affiliation, I swear or affirm that I have in good faith changed my previously declared party affiliation, or declared my party affiliation, and now desire to be a member of the party indicated above.

                .....................................
             Signature of voter

                .....................................

             Address

                (........)..........................
             Telephone (optional)
Approved:
....................................
Election board member

                ......................
             Date
    Sec. 3.  Section 53.2, subsection 6, Code 2023, is amended by striking the subsection.
    Sec. 4.  REPEAL.  Section 43.42, Code 2023, is repealed.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to declarations and changes of political party affiliations. The bill requires a registered voter wishing to declare or change a political party affiliation to do so no later than 147 days before a primary election and prohibits a registered voter from declaring or changing a political party affiliation between 146 days before a primary election and the date of the general election. The bill repeals provisions allowing a registered voter to change or declare a political party affiliation on the day of a primary election or by submitting an absentee ballot request form.