House
File
2501
-
Reprinted
HOUSE
FILE
2501
BY
COMMITTEE
ON
STATE
GOVERNMENT
(SUCCESSOR
TO
HSB
627)
(As
Amended
and
Passed
by
the
House
February
25,
2026
)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
matters
associated
with
county
officers
1
and
the
conduct
of
elections,
and
including
effective
date
2
provisions.
3
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
H.F.
2501
DIVISION
I
1
ELECTION
MISCONDUCT
——
INVESTIGATION
2
Section
1.
Section
39A.1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
by
adding
3
the
following
new
subsection:
4
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
2A.
For
purposes
of
this
chapter,
“election
5
day”
includes
any
day
on
which
voting
takes
place
in
person,
6
including
pursuant
to
section
53.10
or
53.11.
7
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
39A.8
Investigation
of
election
8
officials
——
notification.
9
A
law
enforcement
agency
or
other
entity
of
the
state
10
or
a
political
subdivision
of
the
state
that
conducts
an
11
investigation
of
an
election,
the
actions
of
election
12
officials,
or
election
misconduct
shall
immediately
notify
the
13
state
commissioner,
except
that
the
governor
shall
immediately
14
be
notified
of
an
investigation
of
the
state
commissioner.
15
DIVISION
II
16
CANCELLATION
OF
VOTER
REGISTRATION
17
Sec.
3.
Section
48A.30,
subsection
1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
18
by
adding
the
following
new
paragraph:
19
NEW
PARAGRAPH
.
i.
The
registration
has
been
designated
20
as
incomplete,
pending,
or
unconfirmed
pursuant
to
section
21
48A.37,
subsection
2,
for
ninety
days,
and
the
commissioner
has
22
been
unable
to
contact
the
registrant,
or
the
registrant
has
23
failed
to
submit
sufficient
information
to
complete,
verify,
24
or
correct
the
defect
in
the
registration
following
contact
by
25
the
commissioner.
26
DIVISION
III
27
ELECTION
RECOUNTS
——
PUBLIC
MEASURES
28
Sec.
4.
Section
50.49,
subsections
1
and
2,
Code
2026,
are
29
amended
to
read
as
follows:
30
1.
A
recount
for
any
public
measure
shall
be
ordered
by
the
31
board
of
canvassers
if
a
petition
requesting
a
recount
is
filed
32
with
the
state
commissioner
for
a
public
measure
voted
on
by
33
the
electors
of
the
entire
state,
or
the
county
commissioner
34
for
all
other
public
measures,
not
later
than
three
days
after
35
-1-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
1/
16
H.F.
2501
the
completion
of
the
canvass
of
votes
for
the
election
at
1
which
the
question
appeared
on
the
ballot
and
the
abstracts
2
prepared
pursuant
to
section
50.24
indicate
that
the
difference
3
between
the
affirmative
and
negative
votes
cast
on
the
public
4
measure
is
less
than
fifteen
hundredths
of
one
percent
for
a
5
public
measure
voted
on
by
the
electors
of
the
entire
state,
6
or
less
than
either
one
percent
or
fifty
votes,
whichever
is
7
lesser,
for
all
other
public
measures.
For
a
public
measure
8
that
is
not
voted
on
by
the
electors
of
the
entire
state
and
9
that
requires
the
affirmative
vote
of
at
least
sixty
percent
of
10
the
votes
cast
on
the
public
measure,
the
abstracts
prepared
11
pursuant
to
section
50.24
must
indicate
that
the
difference
12
between
passage
and
defeat
of
the
public
measure
is
less
than
13
either
one
percent
or
fifty
votes,
whichever
is
lesser.
The
14
petition
shall
be
signed
by
the
greater
of
not
less
than
ten
15
eligible
electors
or
a
number
of
eligible
electors
equaling
16
one
percent
of
the
total
number
of
votes
cast
upon
the
public
17
measure.
Each
petitioner
must
be
a
person
who
was
entitled
to
18
vote
on
the
public
measure
in
question
or
would
have
been
so
19
entitled
if
registered
to
vote.
20
2.
The
recount
shall
be
conducted
by
a
board
which
shall
21
consist
of
:
the
commissioner
and
the
commissioner’s
staff,
22
which
may
include
persons
employed
by
the
commissioner
to
tally
23
ballots
during
the
election.
24
a.
A
designee
named
in
the
petition
requesting
the
recount.
25
b.
A
designee
named
by
the
commissioner
at
or
before
the
26
time
the
board
is
required
to
convene.
27
c.
A
person
chosen
jointly
by
the
members
designated
under
28
paragraphs
“a”
and
“b”
.
29
Sec.
5.
Section
50.49,
subsection
3,
Code
2026,
is
amended
30
to
read
as
follows:
31
3.
The
commissioner
shall
convene
the
persons
designated
32
under
subsection
2
,
paragraphs
“a”
and
“b”
,
not
later
than
9:00
33
a.m.
on
the
seventh
day
following
the
canvass
of
the
election
34
in
question.
If
those
two
members
cannot
agree
on
the
third
35
-2-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
2/
16
H.F.
2501
member
by
8:00
a.m.
on
the
ninth
day
following
the
canvass,
1
they
shall
immediately
notify
the
chief
judge
of
the
judicial
2
district
in
which
the
canvass
is
occurring,
who
shall
appoint
3
the
third
member
not
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
eleventh
day
4
following
the
canvass.
5
DIVISION
IV
6
ELECTION
SECURITY
7
Sec.
6.
Section
52.5,
subsection
2,
Code
2026,
is
amended
8
to
read
as
follows:
9
2.
The
state
commissioner
shall
formulate,
with
the
advice
10
and
assistance
of
the
examiners,
and
adopt
rules
governing
the
11
testing
and
examination
of
any
optical
scan
voting
system
by
12
the
board
of
examiners.
The
rules
shall
prescribe
the
method
13
to
be
used
in
determining
whether
the
system
is
suitable
for
14
use
within
the
state
and
performance
standards
for
voting
15
equipment
in
use
within
the
state.
The
rules
shall
provide
16
that
all
optical
scan
voting
systems
approved
for
use
by
the
17
examiners
after
April
9,
2003,
shall
meet
voting
systems
18
performance
and
test
standards,
as
adopted
by
the
federal
19
United
States
election
assistance
commission
on
April
30,
20
2002
,
and
as
deemed
adopted
by
the
federal
Help
America
Vote
21
Act,
Pub.
L.
No.
107-252,
§222
116
Stat.
1666
.
The
rules
22
shall
include
standards
for
determining
when
recertification
23
is
necessary
following
modifications
to
the
equipment
or
to
24
the
programs
used
in
tabulating
votes,
and
a
procedure
for
25
rescinding
certification
if
a
system
is
found
not
to
comply
26
with
performance
standards
adopted
by
the
state
commissioner.
27
Sec.
7.
NEW
SECTION
.
52.39
Election
equipment
——
physical
28
security.
29
Election
equipment,
including
election
equipment
not
30
currently
in
use,
shall
be
secured
by
a
tamper-evident
seal
at
31
all
times.
32
DIVISION
V
33
SPECIAL
PRECINCT
ELECTION
BOARD
34
Sec.
8.
Section
53.23,
subsection
3,
paragraph
a,
Code
2026,
35
-3-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
3/
16
H.F.
2501
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
1
a.
The
commissioner
shall
set
a
convening
time
for
the
2
board
of
no
later
than
9:00
a.m.
on
election
day
for
a
general
3
election
or
a
statewide
special
election
,
allowing
a
reasonable
4
amount
of
time
to
complete
counting
all
absentee
ballots
by
5
10:00
p.m.
on
election
day.
6
DIVISION
VI
7
LOCAL
ELECTION
FILINGS
8
Sec.
9.
Section
44.8,
subsection
1,
Code
2026,
is
amended
9
to
read
as
follows:
10
1.
Objections
filed
with
the
city
clerk
commissioner
11
pursuant
to
section
277.5
or
362.4
or
with
the
commissioner
12
for
an
elective
city
office
shall
be
considered
by
the
mayor
13
and
clerk
and
one
member
of
the
council
chosen
by
the
council
14
by
ballot,
and
a
majority
decision
shall
be
final
as
provided
15
in
section
44.7,
except
as
otherwise
provided
in
this
section
.
16
However,
if
the
objection
is
to
the
certificate
of
nomination
17
of
either
of
those
city
officials,
that
official
shall
not
pass
18
upon
the
objection,
but
the
official’s
place
shall
be
filled
by
19
a
member
of
the
council
against
whom
no
such
objection
exists,
20
chosen
as
above
provided.
21
Sec.
10.
Section
44.9,
subsections
2,
3,
and
5,
Code
2026,
22
are
amended
to
read
as
follows:
23
2.
In
the
office
of
the
appropriate
commissioner,
at
least
24
seventy-four
days
before
the
date
of
the
election,
except
as
25
otherwise
provided
in
subsection
3,
5,
or
6
.
26
3.
In
the
office
of
the
appropriate
school
board
secretary
27
commissioner
in
case
of
a
regularly
scheduled
school
election
,
28
at
least
forty-two
days
before
the
day
of
a
regularly
scheduled
29
school
election.
30
5.
In
the
office
of
the
appropriate
commissioner
or
31
school
board
secretary
in
case
of
a
special
election
to
32
fill
vacancies,
at
least
twenty-five
days
before
the
day
of
33
election.
34
Sec.
11.
Section
44.11,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
35
-4-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
4/
16
H.F.
2501
follows:
1
44.11
Vacancies
filled.
2
If
a
candidate
named
under
this
chapter
withdraws
or
dies
3
before
the
deadline
established
in
section
44.9
,
declines
4
a
nomination,
or
if
a
certificate
of
nomination
is
held
5
insufficient
or
inoperative
by
the
officer
with
whom
it
6
is
required
to
be
filed,
or
in
case
any
objection
made
to
7
a
certificate
of
nomination,
or
to
the
eligibility
of
any
8
candidate
named
in
the
certificate,
is
sustained
by
the
board
9
appointed
to
determine
such
questions,
the
vacancy
or
vacancies
10
may
be
filled
by
the
convention,
or
caucus,
or
in
such
manner
11
as
such
convention
or
caucus
has
previously
provided.
The
12
vacancy
or
vacancies
shall
be
filled
not
less
than
seventy-six
13
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
to
14
be
filed
with
the
state
commissioner,
not
less
than
sixty-nine
15
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
to
16
be
filed
with
the
commissioner,
not
less
than
forty-two
days
17
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
to
be
18
filed
in
the
office
of
the
school
board
secretary
with
the
19
commissioner
for
school
elections
,
and
not
less
than
forty-two
20
days
before
the
election
in
the
case
of
nominations
required
to
21
be
filed
with
the
commissioner
for
city
elections.
22
Sec.
12.
Section
275.25,
subsection
1,
paragraph
b,
Code
23
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
24
b.
The
election
shall
be
conducted
as
provided
in
section
25
277.3
,
and
nomination
petitions
shall
be
filed
pursuant
to
26
section
277.4
,
except
as
otherwise
provided
in
this
subsection
.
27
Nomination
petitions
shall
be
filed
with
the
secretary
of
the
28
board
of
the
existing
school
district
in
which
the
candidate
29
resides
county
commissioner
of
elections
described
in
paragraph
30
“a”
not
less
than
twenty-eight
days
before
the
date
set
for
the
31
special
school
election.
The
secretary
of
the
board
county
32
commissioner
of
elections
,
or
the
secretary’s
commissioner’s
33
designee,
shall
be
present
in
the
secretary’s
commissioner’s
34
office
until
5:00
p.m.
on
the
final
day
to
file
the
nomination
35
-5-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
5/
16
H.F.
2501
papers.
The
nomination
papers
shall
be
delivered
to
the
1
commissioner
no
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
twenty-seventh
day
2
before
the
election.
3
Sec.
13.
Section
277.4,
subsections
1,
3,
and
4,
Code
2026,
4
are
amended
to
read
as
follows:
5
1.
Nomination
papers
for
all
candidates
for
election
6
to
office
in
each
school
district
shall
be
filed
with
the
7
secretary
of
the
school
board
county
commissioner
of
elections
8
not
more
than
seventy-one
days
nor
less
than
forty-seven
days
9
before
the
election.
Nomination
petitions
shall
be
filed
10
not
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
last
day
for
filing.
If
the
11
school
board
secretary
is
not
readily
available
during
normal
12
office
hours,
the
secretary
may
designate
a
full-time
employee
13
of
the
school
district
who
is
ordinarily
available
to
accept
14
nomination
papers
under
this
section
.
On
the
final
date
for
15
filing
nomination
papers
,
the
office
of
the
school
secretary
16
county
commissioner
of
elections
shall
remain
open
until
5:00
17
p.m.
18
3.
The
secretary
of
the
school
board
county
commissioner
19
of
elections
shall
accept
the
petition
for
filing
if
on
its
20
face
it
appears
to
have
the
requisite
number
of
signatures
21
and
if
it
is
timely
filed.
The
secretary
of
the
school
board
22
county
commissioner
of
elections
shall
note
upon
each
petition
23
and
affidavit
accepted
for
filing
the
date
and
time
that
the
24
petition
was
filed.
The
secretary
of
the
school
board
shall
25
deliver
all
nomination
petitions,
together
with
the
complete
26
text
of
any
public
measure
being
submitted
by
the
board
to
the
27
electorate
,
to
the
county
commissioner
of
elections
on
the
day
28
following
the
last
day
on
which
nomination
petitions
can
be
29
filed,
and
not
later
than
12:00
noon
on
that
day.
30
4.
Any
person
on
whose
behalf
nomination
petitions
have
been
31
filed
under
this
section
may
withdraw
as
a
candidate
by
filing
32
a
signed
statement
to
that
effect
with
the
secretary
county
33
commissioner
of
elections
consistent
with
section
44.9
.
34
Sec.
14.
Section
277.5,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
35
-6-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
6/
16
H.F.
2501
follows:
1
277.5
Objections
to
nominations.
2
1.
Objections
to
the
legal
sufficiency
of
a
nomination
3
petition
or
to
the
eligibility
of
a
candidate
may
be
filed
by
4
any
person
who
would
have
the
right
to
vote
for
a
candidate
for
5
the
office
in
question.
The
objection
must
be
filed
with
the
6
secretary
of
the
school
board
county
commissioner
of
elections
7
at
least
forty-two
days
before
the
day
of
the
school
election.
8
When
objections
are
filed
,
notice
shall
forthwith
be
given
to
9
the
candidate
affected,
addressed
to
the
candidate’s
place
10
of
residence
as
given
on
the
candidate’s
affidavit,
stating
11
that
objections
have
been
made
to
the
legal
sufficiency
of
12
the
petition
or
to
the
eligibility
of
the
candidate,
and
also
13
stating
the
time
and
place
the
objections
will
be
considered.
14
2.
Objections
shall
be
considered
not
later
than
two
working
15
days
following
the
receipt
of
the
objections
by
the
president
16
of
the
school
board,
the
secretary
of
the
school
board,
and
17
one
additional
member
of
the
school
board
chosen
by
ballot.
18
If
objections
have
been
filed
to
the
nominations
of
either
of
19
those
school
officials,
that
official
shall
not
pass
on
the
20
objection.
The
official’s
place
shall
be
filled
by
a
member
21
of
the
school
board
against
whom
no
objection
exists.
The
22
replacement
shall
be
chosen
by
ballot
as
provided
in
section
23
44.7
.
24
Sec.
15.
Section
279.6,
subsection
1,
paragraph
b,
25
subparagraph
(1),
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
26
(1)
If
within
fourteen
days
after
publication
of
a
notice
27
required
pursuant
to
paragraph
“a”
for
a
vacancy
that
occurs
28
more
than
one
hundred
eighty
days
before
the
next
regular
29
school
election,
or
after
the
filing
period
closes
pursuant
30
to
section
277.4,
subsection
1
,
for
the
next
regular
school
31
election,
there
is
filed
with
the
secretary
of
the
school
32
board
county
commissioner
of
elections
a
petition
requesting
a
33
special
election
to
fill
the
vacancy,
an
appointment
to
fill
34
the
vacancy
is
temporary
until
a
successor
is
elected
and
35
-7-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
7/
16
H.F.
2501
qualified,
and
the
board
shall
call
a
special
election
pursuant
1
to
section
279.7
,
to
fill
the
vacancy
for
the
remaining
balance
2
of
the
unexpired
term.
3
Sec.
16.
Section
279.6,
subsection
2,
Code
2026,
is
amended
4
to
read
as
follows:
5
2.
A
vacancy
shall
be
filled
at
the
next
regular
school
6
election
if
a
member
of
a
school
board
resigns
from
the
7
board
not
later
than
forty-five
days
before
the
election
8
and
the
notice
of
resignation
specifies
an
effective
date
9
at
the
beginning
of
the
next
term
of
office
for
elective
10
school
officials.
The
president
of
the
board
shall
declare
11
the
office
vacant
as
of
the
date
of
the
next
organizational
12
meeting.
Nomination
papers
shall
be
received
filed
with
the
13
county
commissioner
of
elections
for
the
unexpired
term
of
14
the
resigning
member.
The
person
elected
at
the
next
regular
15
school
election
to
fill
the
vacancy
shall
take
office
at
the
16
same
time
and
place
as
the
other
elected
school
board
members.
17
Sec.
17.
Section
362.4,
subsection
3,
Code
2026,
is
amended
18
to
read
as
follows:
19
3.
Petitions
which
have
been
accepted
for
filing
are
20
valid
unless
written
objections
are
filed
with
the
city
clerk
21
commissioner
within
five
working
days
after
the
petition
is
22
received.
The
objection
process
in
section
44.8
shall
be
23
followed.
24
Sec.
18.
Section
376.4,
subsections
1,
3,
4,
5,
and
6,
Code
25
2026,
are
amended
to
read
as
follows:
26
1.
a.
An
eligible
elector
of
a
city
may
become
a
candidate
27
for
an
elective
city
office
by
filing
with
the
county
28
commissioner
of
elections
responsible
under
section
47.2
29
for
conducting
elections
held
for
the
city
a
valid
petition
30
requesting
that
the
elector’s
name
be
placed
on
the
ballot
for
31
that
office
,
or
by
filing
a
valid
petition
with
the
designated
32
city
clerk
.
The
petition
must
be
filed
not
more
than
33
seventy-one
days
and
not
less
than
forty-seven
days
before
the
34
date
of
the
election,
and
must
be
signed
by
eligible
electors
35
-8-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
8/
16
H.F.
2501
equal
in
number
to
at
least
two
percent
of
those
who
voted
to
1
fill
the
same
office
at
the
last
regular
city
election,
but
not
2
less
than
ten
persons.
However,
for
those
cities
which
may
be
3
required
to
hold
a
primary
election,
the
petition
must
be
filed
4
not
more
than
eighty-five
days
and
not
less
than
sixty-eight
5
days
before
the
date
of
the
regular
city
election.
Nomination
6
petitions
shall
be
filed
not
later
than
5:00
p.m.
on
the
last
7
day
for
filing.
8
b.
The
petitioners
for
an
individual
seeking
election
from
9
a
ward
must
be
residents
of
the
ward
at
the
time
of
signing
the
10
petition.
An
individual
is
not
eligible
for
election
from
a
11
ward
unless
the
individual
is
a
resident
of
the
ward
at
the
12
time
the
individual
files
the
petition
and
at
the
time
of
13
election.
14
c.
The
county
commissioner
may
designate
the
city
clerk
of
15
a
city
to
receive
nomination
papers
for
elective
city
offices.
16
If
so
designated,
the
city
clerk
shall
have
all
the
duties
of
17
the
county
commissioner
provided
in
this
section
.
18
3.
On
the
final
date
for
filing
nomination
papers
the
office
19
of
the
county
commissioner
and
the
office
of
the
city
clerk
20
designated
pursuant
to
subsection
1
shall
remain
open
until
21
5:00
p.m.
22
4.
The
county
commissioner
or
the
city
clerk
designated
23
pursuant
to
subsection
1
shall
review
each
petition
and
24
affidavit
of
candidacy
for
completeness
following
the
standards
25
in
section
45.5
and
shall
accept
the
petition
for
filing
26
if
on
its
face
it
appears
to
have
the
requisite
number
of
27
signatures
and
if
it
is
timely
filed.
The
county
commissioner
28
or
the
designated
city
clerk
shall
note
upon
each
petition
and
29
affidavit
accepted
for
filing
the
date
and
time
that
they
were
30
filed.
The
county
commissioner
or
the
designated
city
clerk
31
shall
return
any
rejected
nomination
papers
to
the
person
on
32
whose
behalf
the
nomination
papers
were
filed.
33
5.
Nomination
papers
filed
with
the
county
commissioner
or
34
the
city
clerk
designated
pursuant
to
subsection
1
shall
be
35
-9-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
9/
16
H.F.
2501
available
for
public
inspection.
1
6.
The
city
clerk
shall
deliver
the
text
of
any
public
2
measure
being
submitted
by
the
city
council
to
the
electorate
3
to
the
county
commissioner
of
elections.
If
the
county
4
commissioner
has
designated
the
city
clerk
to
receive
5
nomination
papers
for
elective
city
offices
pursuant
to
6
subsection
1
,
the
city
clerk
shall
deliver
the
nomination
7
papers
accepted
for
filing
to
the
county
commissioner.
The
8
text
of
any
public
measure
and
nomination
papers
required
to
9
be
delivered
under
this
subsection
shall
be
delivered
no
later
10
than
the
day
after
the
last
day
on
which
nomination
petitions
11
can
be
filed,
and
not
later
than
12:00
noon
on
that
day.
12
Sec.
19.
Section
376.10,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
13
follows:
14
376.10
Contest.
15
A
nomination
or
election
to
a
city
office
may
be
contested
in
16
the
manner
provided
in
chapter
62
for
contesting
elections
to
17
county
offices,
except
that
a
statement
of
intent
to
contest
18
must
be
filed
with
the
city
clerk
county
commissioner
of
19
elections
within
ten
days
after
the
nomination
or
election.
20
Sec.
20.
Section
376.11,
subsections
1
and
2,
Code
2026,
are
21
amended
to
read
as
follows:
22
1.
Write-in
votes
are
permitted
to
be
cast
in
all
elections
23
for
city
offices.
A
person
who
receives
a
sufficient
number
of
24
write-in
votes
to
be
elected
to
a
city
office
shall
be
declared
25
the
winner
of
the
election.
If
the
result
is
a
tie
vote,
lots
26
shall
be
drawn
pursuant
to
section
50.44
.
If
a
person
who
was
27
elected
by
write-in
votes
chooses
not
to
serve
in
that
office,
28
the
person
shall
submit
a
resignation
in
writing
to
the
city
29
clerk
county
commissioner
of
elections
not
later
than
5:00
p.m.
30
on
the
tenth
day
following
the
canvass
of
the
election.
If
a
31
person
who
was
elected
by
write-in
votes
resigns
at
a
later
32
time,
the
office
shall
be
considered
vacant
at
the
end
of
the
33
term
and
the
council
shall
fill
the
vacancy
pursuant
to
the
34
provisions
of
section
372.13,
subsection
2
.
35
-10-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
10/
16
H.F.
2501
2.
Except
in
cities
where
the
council
has
chosen
a
runoff
1
election
in
lieu
of
a
primary,
following
the
resignation
of
2
a
person
who
was
elected
by
write-in
votes,
the
city
clerk
3
shall
notify
the
person
who
received
the
next
highest
number
4
of
votes
cast
for
the
office
that
the
person
may
assume
the
5
office.
If
there
is
more
than
one
person
who
received
the
6
next
highest
number
of
votes
cast
for
the
office,
lots
shall
7
be
drawn
pursuant
to
section
50.44
to
determine
the
person
8
who
received
the
next
highest
number
of
votes.
If
the
person
9
accepts
the
position,
the
person
shall
be
considered
the
10
duly
elected
officer
unless,
within
ten
days
after
the
clerk
11
county
commissioner
of
elections
has
given
notice,
a
petition
12
requesting
a
special
election
is
filed
by
eligible
electors
of
13
the
city
equal
in
number
to
twenty-five
percent
of
the
number
14
of
persons
who
voted
for
the
office
at
the
election.
If
the
15
person
declines,
the
person
shall
do
so
in
writing
to
the
city
16
clerk
county
commissioner
of
elections
within
ten
days
and
the
17
office
shall
be
considered
vacant
at
the
end
of
the
term.
The
18
vacancy
shall
be
filled
pursuant
to
the
provisions
of
section
19
372.13,
subsection
2
.
If
the
council
chooses
to
appoint,
the
20
appointment
may
be
made
before
the
end
of
the
current
term.
21
DIVISION
VII
22
ABSENTEE
BALLOT
TRACKING
23
Sec.
21.
Section
53.17A,
subsection
4,
Code
2026,
is
amended
24
to
read
as
follows:
25
4.
a.
The
state
commissioner
shall
by
February
26,
26
2024,
include
on
the
state
commissioner’s
internet
site
27
an
application
through
which
a
voter
can
track
the
voter’s
28
absentee
ballot
request
form
and
absentee
ballot.
The
29
application
shall
must
provide
all
of
the
following
30
information:
31
a.
(1)
Whether
the
voter
returned
a
ballot
in
person,
by
32
mail,
or
by
voting
in
person
at
a
satellite
location.
33
b.
(2)
The
date
the
absentee
ballot
request
form
was
34
received
by
the
county
commissioner.
35
-11-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
11/
16
H.F.
2501
c.
(3)
The
date
the
absentee
ballot
was
mailed
or
given
to
1
the
voter.
2
d.
(4)
The
date
the
absentee
ballot
was
received
by
the
3
county
commissioner.
4
e.
(5)
The
date
the
county
commissioner
opened
the
outer
5
envelope.
6
f.
(6)
Whether
there
is
a
problem
with
the
absentee
ballot
7
request
form
or
absentee
ballot
that
requires
correction
by
the
8
voter,
along
with
instructions
for
the
voter
to
contact
the
9
county
commissioner
as
soon
as
possible
to
resolve
the
issue.
10
b.
The
application
must
allow
a
voter
to
choose
to
receive
11
notification
of
changes
in
the
status
of
the
voter’s
absentee
12
ballot
request
form
or
absentee
ballot
by
electronic
mail,
text
13
message,
or
other
electronic
means.
14
Sec.
22.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
division
of
this
Act
takes
15
effect
July
1,
2027.
16
DIVISION
VIII
17
ABSENTEE
BALLOTS
——
POSTAL
SERVICE
BARCODES
18
Sec.
23.
Section
53.17A,
subsection
2,
Code
2026,
is
amended
19
to
read
as
follows:
20
2.
The
state
commissioner
shall
adopt
rules
regarding
21
the
statewide
implementation
of
a
postal
service
barcode
22
and
tracking
information
database
and
the
implementation
of
23
a
postal
service
barcode
for
absentee
ballots
requested
or
24
returned
pursuant
to
section
9E.6,
53.22,
53.39,
53.44,
or
25
53.45
,
including
procedures
to
be
followed
when
usage
of
a
26
postal
service
barcode
or
the
tracking
information
database
27
is
negatively
impacted.
Each
commissioner
shall
use
a
postal
28
service
barcode
and
tracking
information
database
consistent
29
with
rules
of
the
state
commissioner.
Every
commissioner
shall
30
send
notice
to
the
state
commissioner
and
implement
the
use
31
of
a
postal
service
barcode
and
tracking
information
database
32
prior
to
October
1,
2020.
33
Sec.
24.
Section
53.17A,
subsection
3,
paragraph
a,
Code
34
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
35
-12-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
12/
16
H.F.
2501
a.
An
absentee
ballot
requested
or
returned
pursuant
to
1
section
9E.6,
53.22,
53.39,
53.44,
or
53.45
and
received
after
2
the
polls
close
on
election
day
but
prior
to
the
official
3
canvass
shall
be
counted
if
the
commissioner
determines
that
4
the
ballot
entered
the
federal
mail
system
by
the
deadline
5
specified
in
section
53.17
or
53.22
.
The
date
of
entry
of
such
6
an
absentee
ballot
into
the
federal
mail
system
shall
only
be
7
verified
as
provided
in
paragraph
“b”
.
8
DIVISION
IX
9
VOTER
IDENTIFICATION
——
ATTESTATION
OF
ANOTHER
10
Sec.
25.
Section
49.78,
subsections
4
and
5,
Code
2026,
are
11
amended
by
striking
the
subsections.
12
Sec.
26.
Section
49.78,
subsection
6,
Code
2026,
is
amended
13
to
read
as
follows:
14
6.
A
voter
who
is
not
otherwise
disqualified
from
voting
15
and
who
has
established
identity
under
subsection
2
,
or
3
,
or
16
4
shall
be
furnished
a
ballot
and
be
allowed
to
vote
under
17
section
49.77
.
18
Sec.
27.
Section
49.81,
subsection
2,
Code
2026,
is
amended
19
to
read
as
follows:
20
2.
A
prospective
voter
who
is
unable
to
establish
21
identity
under
section
49.78,
subsection
2
,
paragraph
“a”
,
or
22
section
49.78,
subsection
3
or
4
,
shall
be
notified
by
the
23
appropriate
precinct
election
official
that
the
voter
may
cast
24
a
provisional
ballot.
The
voter
shall
mark
the
ballot
and
25
immediately
seal
it
in
an
envelope
of
the
type
prescribed
by
26
subsection
5
.
The
voter
shall
deliver
the
sealed
envelope
to
a
27
precinct
election
official
who
shall
deposit
it
in
an
envelope
28
marked
“provisional
ballots”.
The
ballot
shall
be
considered
29
as
having
been
cast
in
the
special
precinct
established
by
30
section
53.20
for
purposes
of
the
postelection
canvass.
31
DIVISION
X
32
HOSPITAL
BOARD
OF
TRUSTEES
ELECTIONS
33
Sec.
28.
HOSPITAL
BOARD
OF
TRUSTEES
ELECTIONS.
34
Notwithstanding
section
347.9,
for
elections
held
pursuant
35
-13-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
13/
16
H.F.
2501
to
section
347.9
in
2026,
if
there
are
seven
trustees
on
the
1
board
and
five
trustees
are
to
be
elected,
the
four
elected
who
2
receive
the
highest
number
of
votes
are
elected
for
four-year
3
terms.
The
remaining
trustee
is
elected
for
a
two-year
term.
4
In
case
of
a
tie,
the
county
auditor
shall
determine
by
lot
5
which
of
the
trustees
with
the
lowest
number
of
winning
votes
6
shall
serve
the
two-year
term
and
thereafter
their
successor
7
shall
be
elected
for
regular
terms
as
provided
in
section
8
347.9.
9
DIVISION
XI
10
COUNTY
OFFICERS
——
DUTIES
11
Sec.
29.
Section
35B.10,
subsection
2,
Code
2026,
is
amended
12
to
read
as
follows:
13
2.
The
county
commission
of
veteran
affairs
shall
prepare
14
and
file
in
the
office
of
the
county
auditor
on
or
before
the
15
thirtieth
day
of
each
January,
April,
July,
and
October
a
16
report
showing
the
case
numbers
of
all
recipients
receiving
17
assistance
under
this
chapter
,
together
with
the
amount
paid
to
18
each
during
the
preceding
quarter.
Each
report
so
filed
shall
19
be
maintained
as
a
permanent
record
to
be
used
only
for
such
20
reports
made
under
this
chapter
.
21
Sec.
30.
Section
298.11,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
22
follows:
23
298.11
Apportionment
of
school
funds.
24
1.
The
county
auditor
treasurer
shall,
on
the
first
25
Monday
in
April
and
the
first
Monday
in
October
of
each
year,
26
apportion
the
school
tax,
together
with
rents
on
unsold
school
27
lands
to
which
the
county
is
entitled
as
shown
in
notice
from
28
the
director
of
the
department
of
administrative
services,
and
29
all
other
moneys
in
the
hands
of
the
county
treasurer
belonging
30
in
common
to
the
schools
of
the
county
and
not
included
in
a
31
previous
apportionment,
among
the
corporations
in
the
county
32
in
the
manner
provided
by
law.
33
2.
The
county
auditor
shall
immediately
notify
the
county
34
treasurer
of
such
apportionment
and
of
the
amount
due
thereby
35
-14-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
14/
16
H.F.
2501
to
each
corporation.
1
3.
2.
The
county
treasurer
shall
thereupon
give
notice
2
to
the
president
of
each
corporation,
and
shall
pay
out
3
such
apportionment
moneys
in
the
same
manner
that
the
county
4
treasurer
is
authorized
to
pay
other
school
moneys
to
the
5
treasurers
of
the
several
school
districts.
6
Sec.
31.
Section
331.502,
subsections
10,
11,
16,
and
35,
7
Code
2026,
are
amended
by
striking
the
subsections.
8
Sec.
32.
Section
331.502,
subsection
12,
Code
2026,
is
9
amended
to
read
as
follows:
10
12.
Issue
warrants
and
maintain
a
permanent
record
for
11
payment
of
claims
of
persons
receiving
veteran
assistance
as
12
provided
in
section
35B.10
.
13
Sec.
33.
Section
331.508,
subsections
4
and
5,
Code
2026,
14
are
amended
by
striking
the
subsections.
15
Sec.
34.
Section
331.552,
subsection
16,
Code
2026,
is
16
amended
to
read
as
follows:
17
16.
Pay
Apportion
and
pay
to
the
treasurers
of
the
school
18
corporations
located
in
the
county
the
taxes
and
other
moneys
19
due
as
provided
in
section
298.11
and
send
amounts
collected
20
for
each
fund
of
a
school
corporation
for
direct
deposit
into
21
the
depository
and
account
designated
as
provided
in
section
22
298.13
.
23
Sec.
35.
Section
331.552,
Code
2026,
is
amended
by
adding
24
the
following
new
subsection:
25
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
37.
Receive
and
record
in
a
book
kept
26
for
that
purpose,
moneys
recovered
from
a
person
willfully
27
committing
waste
or
trespass
on
real
estate
as
provided
in
28
section
658.10.
29
Sec.
36.
Section
658.10,
Code
2026,
is
amended
to
read
as
30
follows:
31
658.10
Disposition
of
money.
32
All
money
recovered
in
an
action
brought
under
section
658.9
33
shall
be
paid
by
the
officer
collecting
it
to
the
auditor
34
treasurer
of
the
county
in
which
the
lands
are
situated,
which
35
-15-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
15/
16
H.F.
2501
shall
be
held
by
the
auditor
treasurer
,
and
an
entry
thereof
1
made
in
a
book
kept
for
that
purpose,
until
the
lands
are
2
redeemed,
or
a
treasurer’s
deed
therefor
executed
to
the
holder
3
of
said
certificate.
If
redemption
is
made,
the
money
shall
4
be
paid
to
the
owner
of
the
land,
and
if
not,
to
the
person
to
5
whom
the
deed
is
executed.
6
Sec.
37.
REPEAL.
Section
225.35,
Code
2026,
is
repealed.
7
-16-
HF
2501
(3)
91
ss/ns/md
16/
16