Bill Text: IA SSB3060 | 2013-2014 | 85th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: A study bill for an act relating to elections and voter registration by modifying proof of identity requirements for election day and in=person absentee registration, requiring proof of identification to vote and creating a criminal offense for falsely swearing certain related oaths and affidavits, and including applicability provisions.

Sponsorship: Unknown

Status: (N/A - Dead) 0000-00-00 - In State Government [SSB3060 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2013-SSB3060-Introduced.html
Senate Study Bill 3060 - Introduced SENATE/HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED SECRETARY OF STATE BILL) A BILL FOR An Act relating to elections and voter registration by 1 modifying proof of identity requirements for election day 2 and in-person absentee registration, requiring proof of 3 identification to vote and creating a criminal offense for 4 falsely swearing certain related oaths and affidavits, and 5 including applicability provisions. 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 7 TLSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ Section 1. Section 39A.2, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 1 2014, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph: 2 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH . (6) Falsely swears to or affirms an 3 oath required pursuant to section 49.77, subsection 3, or an 4 affidavit pursuant to section 49.81, subsection 5, paragraph 5 “b” . 6 Sec. 2. Section 48A.7A, subsection 1, paragraphs a and b, 7 Code 2014, are amended to read as follows: 8 a. A person who is eligible to register to vote and to 9 vote may register on election day by appearing in person at 10 the polling place for the precinct in which the individual 11 resides and completing a voter registration application, making 12 written oath, and providing proof of identity identification 13 and residence , if necessary, proof of residence pursuant to 14 paragraph “b” . 15 b. (1) For purposes of this section , a person may establish 16 identity and residence by presenting to the appropriate 17 precinct election official a current and valid Iowa driver’s 18 license or Iowa nonoperator’s identification card or by 19 presenting any of the following current and valid forms of 20 identification if such identification contains the person’s 21 photograph and a validity expiration date: 22 (a) An out-of-state driver’s license or nonoperator’s 23 identification card. 24 (b) A United States passport. 25 (c) A United States military identification card. 26 (d) An identification card issued by an employer. 27 (e) A student identification card issued by an Iowa high 28 school or an Iowa postsecondary educational institution proof 29 of identification as described in section 49.77, subsection 3 . 30 (2) If the photographic proof of identification presented 31 does not contain the person’s current address in the precinct, 32 the person shall also present one of the following documents 33 that shows the person’s name and current address in the 34 precinct: 35 -1- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 1/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ (a) Residential lease. 1 (b) Property tax statement. 2 (c) Utility bill. 3 (d) Bank statement. 4 (e) Paycheck. 5 (f) Government check. 6 (g) Other government document. 7 Sec. 3. Section 48A.27, subsection 4, paragraph c, 8 subparagraph (2), Code 2014, is amended to read as follows: 9 (2) The notice shall contain a statement in substantially 10 the following form: 11 Information received from the United States postal service 12 indicates that you are no longer a resident of, and therefore 13 not eligible to vote in (name of county) County, Iowa. If this 14 information is not correct, and you still live in (name of 15 county) County, please complete and mail the attached postage 16 paid card at least ten days before the primary or general 17 election and at least eleven days before any other election at 18 which you wish to vote. If the information is correct and you 19 have moved, please contact a local official in your new area 20 for assistance in registering there. If you do not mail in 21 the card, you may be required to show identification before 22 being allowed to vote in (name of county) County. If you do not 23 return the card, and you do not vote in an election in (name 24 of county) County, Iowa, on or before (date of second general 25 election following the date of the notice) your name will be 26 removed from the list of voters in that county. 27 Sec. 4. Section 48A.29, subsection 1, paragraph b, Code 28 2014, is amended to read as follows: 29 b. The notice shall contain a statement in substantially the 30 following form: 31 Information received from the United States postal service 32 indicates that you are no longer a resident of (residence 33 address) in (name of county) County, Iowa. If this information 34 is not correct, and you still live in (name of county) County, 35 -2- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 2/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ please complete and mail the attached postage paid card at 1 least ten days before the primary or general election and at 2 least eleven days before any other election at which you wish 3 to vote. If the information is correct, and you have moved, 4 please contact a local official in your new area for assistance 5 in registering there. If you do not mail in the card, you may 6 be required to show identification before being allowed to vote 7 in (name of county) County. If you do not return the card, and 8 you do not vote in some election in (name of county) County, 9 Iowa, on or before (date of second general election following 10 the date of the notice) your name will be removed from the list 11 of voters in that county. 12 Sec. 5. Section 48A.29, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 13 2014, is amended to read as follows: 14 b. The notice shall contain a statement in substantially the 15 following form: 16 Information received by this office indicates that you are no 17 longer a resident of (residence address) in (name of county) 18 County, Iowa. If the information is not correct, and you still 19 live at that address, please complete and mail the attached 20 postage paid card at least ten days before the primary or 21 general election and at least eleven days before any other 22 election at which you wish to vote. If the information is 23 correct, and you have moved within the county, you may update 24 your registration by listing your new address on the card and 25 mailing it back. If you have moved outside the county, please 26 contact a local official in your new area for assistance in 27 registering there. If you do not mail in the card, you may be 28 required to show identification before being allowed to vote in 29 (name of county) County. If you do not return the card, and you 30 do not vote in some election in (name of county) County, Iowa, 31 on or before (date of second general election following the 32 date of the notice) your name will be removed from the list of 33 registered voters in that county. 34 Sec. 6. Section 49.53, subsection 1, Code 2014, is amended 35 -3- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 3/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ to read as follows: 1 1. The commissioner shall not less than four nor more than 2 twenty days before the day of each election, except those for 3 which different publication requirements are prescribed by law, 4 publish notice of the election. The notice shall contain a 5 facsimile of the portion of the ballot containing the first 6 rotation as prescribed by section 49.31, subsection 2 , and 7 shall show the names of all candidates or nominees and the 8 office each seeks, and all public questions, to be voted upon 9 at the election. The sample ballot published as a part of the 10 notice may at the discretion of the commissioner be reduced in 11 size relative to the actual ballot but such reduction shall not 12 cause upper case letters appearing in candidates’ names or in 13 summaries of public measures on the published sample ballot to 14 be less than nine point type. The notice shall also state the 15 date of the election, the hours the polls will be open, that 16 all voters will be required to show proof of identification 17 before casting a ballot, the location of each polling place at 18 which voting is to occur in the election, and the names of the 19 precincts voting at each polling place, but the statement need 20 not set forth any fact which is apparent from the portion of 21 the ballot appearing as a part of the same notice. The notice 22 shall include the full text of all public measures to be voted 23 upon at the election. 24 Sec. 7. Section 49.77, subsection 3, Code 2014, is amended 25 by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the 26 following: 27 3. a. A precinct election official shall require the voter 28 to present for inspection proof of identification before being 29 allowed to vote. 30 b. For purposes of this section, “proof of identification” 31 refers to a document that satisfies all of the following: 32 (1) The document shows the name of the individual to whom 33 the document was issued which shall conform to the name on the 34 election register, except that for an individual registering 35 -4- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 4/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ pursuant to section 48A.7A, the name of the individual need not 1 appear on the election register. 2 (2) The document shows a photograph of the individual to 3 whom it was issued. 4 (3) The document was issued by the government of the 5 United States, the state of Iowa, an Iowa public or private 6 university or college, an Iowa secondary school, or a political 7 subdivision of the state of Iowa. In the case of a document 8 issued by a political subdivision, the document shall be 9 issued not later than the close of voter registration for 10 the applicable election as set forth in section 48A.9 and 11 shall meet all other requirements established by the state 12 commissioner by rule. 13 c. In lieu of paragraph “b” , a person wishing to vote may 14 establish proof of identity by written oath of the person 15 wishing to vote and of an attesting person who provides proof 16 of identification pursuant to paragraph “b” . The oath shall be 17 in the form prescribed by the state commissioner of elections 18 and shall state the identity and attest to the stated identity 19 of the person wishing to vote. The oath must be signed by the 20 attesting person and the person wishing to vote in the presence 21 of the appropriate precinct election official. A person who 22 has signed an oath attesting to a person’s identity as provided 23 in this paragraph is prohibited from signing any further oaths 24 under this paragraph for the same election. The oath shall 25 advise the person wishing to vote and the attesting person that 26 falsely signing such an oath or falsely attesting to a voter’s 27 identity is a class “D” felony. 28 d. The commissioner shall, within forty-five days after 29 each election, review all attestations received under this 30 subsection, and if any individual is found to have attested for 31 more than one voter in a particular election, the commissioner 32 shall immediately notify the state commissioner and the county 33 attorney. 34 Sec. 8. Section 49.77, Code 2014, is amended by adding the 35 -5- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 5/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ following new subsection: 1 NEW SUBSECTION . 3A. a. If proof of identification is 2 established under subsection 3, the person shall be allowed to 3 vote. 4 b. If a person whose name appears on the election register 5 or who has registered at the polling place on election day 6 is unable or refuses to present proof of identification, 7 or the precinct election official determines the proof of 8 identification presented by the person does not qualify as 9 proof of identification under subsection 3, paragraph “b” , 10 or proof of identity under subsection 3, paragraph “c” , the 11 person shall be offered the option to vote a ballot, but only 12 in accordance with section 49.81. 13 Sec. 9. Section 49.77, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code 2014, 14 is amended to read as follows: 15 a. A person whose name does not appear on the election 16 register of the precinct in which that person claims the right 17 to vote shall not be permitted to vote, unless the person 18 affirms that the person is currently registered in the county 19 and presents proof of identity, or the commissioner informs 20 the precinct election officials that an error has occurred 21 and that the person is a registered voter of that precinct , 22 and the person presents proof of identification pursuant to 23 subsection 3 . If the commissioner finds no record of the 24 person’s registration but the person insists that the person 25 is a registered voter of that precinct , and presents proof of 26 identification pursuant to subsection 3 , the precinct election 27 officials shall allow the person to cast a ballot in the manner 28 prescribed by section 49.81 . 29 Sec. 10. Section 49.81, subsection 1, Code 2014, is amended 30 to read as follows: 31 1. A prospective voter who is prohibited under section 32 48A.8, subsection 4 , section 49.77, subsection 3A, paragraph 33 “b” , section 49.77, subsection 4 , section 49.80 , or section 34 53.19, subsection 3 , or section 53.22, subsection 1, paragraph 35 -6- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 6/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ “d” , from voting except under this section shall be notified by 1 the appropriate precinct election official that the voter may 2 cast a provisional ballot. The voter shall mark the ballot and 3 immediately seal it in an envelope of the type prescribed by 4 subsection 4 . The voter shall deliver the sealed envelope to a 5 precinct election official who shall deposit it in an envelope 6 marked “provisional ballots”. The ballot shall be considered 7 as having been cast in the special precinct established by 8 section 53.20 for purposes of the postelection canvass. 9 Sec. 11. Section 49.81, subsection 2, paragraph b, Code 10 2014, is amended to read as follows: 11 b. If the person is casting a provisional ballot because 12 the person failed was unable or refused to provide a required 13 form of identification pursuant to section 48A.8, subsection 14 4, section 49.77, subsection 3A, paragraph “b” , section 49.77, 15 subsection 4, or section 53.22, subsection 1, paragraph “d” , a 16 list of the types of acceptable identification and notification 17 that the person must show identification before the ballot can 18 be counted. 19 Sec. 12. Section 49.81, Code 2014, is amended by adding the 20 following new subsection: 21 NEW SUBSECTION . 5. a. If a voter casts a provisional 22 ballot pursuant to section 49.77, subsection 3A, paragraph 23 “b” , the precinct election official shall indicate on the 24 provisional ballot envelope that the voter is casting a 25 provisional ballot due to the voter’s inability or refusal to 26 present proof of identification. 27 b. At the time a provisional ballot is cast, the voter may 28 also execute an affidavit in the form prescribed by the state 29 commissioner which shall be attached to the provisional ballot 30 envelope, affirming that the voter is the person the voter 31 claims to be and further affirming either of the following: 32 (1) The voter is indigent and is unable to obtain proof of 33 identification without the payment of a fee. 34 (2) The voter has a religious objection to being 35 -7- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 7/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ photographed. 1 c. A provisional ballot cast pursuant to section 49.77, 2 subsection 3A, paragraph “b” , that is accompanied by an 3 affidavit executed pursuant to paragraph “b” of this subsection 4 shall be presumed valid by the special precinct board and 5 shall be counted unless additional written statements or 6 documents are delivered to the commissioner’s office prior to 7 the date provisional ballots are considered by the special 8 precinct election board and the special precinct election board 9 determines such additional evidence successfully rebuts the 10 presumption of validity. 11 Sec. 13. Section 53.10, subsection 2, Code 2014, is amended 12 to read as follows: 13 2. Each person who wishes to vote by absentee ballot at 14 the commissioner’s office shall first sign an application 15 for a ballot including the following information: name, 16 current address, and the election for which the ballot is 17 requested. The person may report a change of address or other 18 information on the person’s voter registration record at that 19 time. The person must also provide proof of identification 20 pursuant to section 49.77, subsection 3, or be offered the 21 option to vote a provisional ballot pursuant to section 49.77, 22 subsection 3A, paragraph “b” , before receiving an absentee 23 ballot. Upon receipt of the absentee ballot, the registered 24 voter shall immediately mark the ballot; enclose the ballot in 25 a secrecy envelope, if necessary, and seal it in an affidavit 26 envelope; subscribe to the affidavit on the reverse side of the 27 envelope; and return the absentee ballot to the commissioner. 28 The commissioner shall record the numbers appearing on the 29 application and affidavit envelope along with the name of the 30 registered voter. 31 Sec. 14. Section 53.22, subsection 1, Code 2014, is amended 32 by adding the following new paragraph: 33 NEW PARAGRAPH . d. Before receiving a ballot under 34 this subsection, each applicant shall present proof of 35 -8- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 8/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ identification pursuant to section 49.77, subsection 3, to 1 the special precinct election board members. If an applicant 2 is unable to present proof of identification, the applicant 3 shall have an opportunity to execute an affidavit in the form 4 prescribed by the state commissioner of elections affirming 5 that the voter does not have and is unable to obtain proof of 6 identification and that the voter resides in a hospital or 7 health care facility and is casting a ballot pursuant to this 8 section. If the applicant refuses to execute an affidavit, the 9 voter’s ballot shall be considered a provisional ballot cast 10 pursuant to section 49.81. 11 Sec. 15. Section 321.190, subsection 1, paragraph d, Code 12 2014, is amended to read as follows: 13 d. (1) The fee for a nonoperator’s identification card 14 shall be eight dollars and the card shall be valid for a period 15 of eight years from the date of issuance. If an applicant 16 for a nonoperator’s identification card is a foreign national 17 who is temporarily present in this state, the nonoperator’s 18 identification card shall be issued only for the length of time 19 the foreign national is authorized to be present as determined 20 by the department, not to exceed two years. An issuance fee 21 shall not be charged for a person whose driver’s license or 22 driving privilege has been suspended under section 321.210, 23 subsection 1 , paragraph “a” , subparagraph (3), or voluntarily 24 surrendered by the person in lieu of suspension under section 25 321.210, subsection 1 , paragraph “a” . 26 (2) An issuance fee shall not be charged under this 27 paragraph for a person obtaining an identification card to 28 be used for voting purposes under section 49.77, subsection 29 3. Identification cards issued for voting purposes shall be 30 labeled by the department as “For Voting Purposes Only”. 31 Sec. 16. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to elections held 32 on or after January 1, 2015. 33 EXPLANATION 34 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 35 -9- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 9/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 1 This bill makes changes relating to proof of identification 2 for purposes of voting at the polls and for purposes of 3 election day and in-person absentee registration. 4 The bill requires that a person provide certain proof of 5 identification at the time that the person votes and creates a 6 criminal offense for falsely swearing certain related oaths and 7 affidavits. 8 The bill requires that a voter provide proof of 9 identification to a precinct election official before being 10 allowed to vote, and also requires that a person wishing to 11 vote by absentee ballot at a county commissioner of elections 12 office or at a satellite absentee voting station present 13 the same proof of identification. The bill requires that 14 acceptable proof of identification show the name of the 15 individual voter, include a photograph of the voter, and be 16 issued by the government of the United States, the state of 17 Iowa, an Iowa public or private university or college, an 18 Iowa secondary school, or a political subdivision of the 19 state. Those documents issued by a political subdivision of 20 the state are required to meet additional requirements. The 21 bill makes changes to the requirements relating to establishing 22 identity for election day and in-person absentee registration 23 by requiring the same proof of identification required by the 24 bill in order to vote. 25 The bill provides that, in lieu of providing identification 26 in order to vote, a person may establish proof of 27 identification by written oath of the person wishing to vote 28 and of a person who provides their own proof of identification 29 and who attests to the voter’s identity. The bill provides 30 that the oath shall be in the form prescribed by the state 31 commissioner of elections, and that the oath shall state the 32 identity of the person wishing to vote and shall attest to 33 the stated identity of the person wishing to vote. The bill 34 requires that the oath be signed by both the attesting person 35 -10- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 10/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ and the person wishing to vote. The bill makes it a class “D” 1 felony to falsely swear to or affirm an oath pursuant to this 2 provision or to falsely attest to a voter’s identity. The bill 3 requires that the oath advise both persons that falsely stating 4 or attesting to a voter’s identity is a class “D” felony. A 5 class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than 6 five years and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7,500. 7 The bill provides that an attesting person is prohibited from 8 signing any additional such oaths for the same election. 9 The bill provides that if a person’s name is on the election 10 register or the person has registered to vote at the polling 11 place but the person is unable or refuses to present proof of 12 identification, or if the precinct election official determines 13 that the proof of identification does not meet the specified 14 requirements, the person shall be offered the option to vote 15 a provisional ballot. If a person is casting a provisional 16 ballot under these circumstances, the person shall receive a 17 printed statement giving notice of the types of acceptable 18 identification and notice that the person is required to show 19 acceptable identification before the provisional ballot can 20 be counted. However, the bill provides that a voter casting 21 a provisional ballot for this reason may execute an affidavit 22 in the form prescribed by the state commissioner of elections, 23 affirming that the voter is the person the voter claims to be 24 and affirming that the voter is either indigent and unable to 25 obtain proof of identification without the payment of a fee or 26 that the voter has a religious objection to being photographed. 27 The bill makes it a class “D” felony to falsify an affidavit 28 that attests to identity. A class “D” felony is punishable by 29 confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least 30 $750 but not more than $7,500. The bill also provides that 31 any provisional ballot cast accompanied by such an affidavit 32 shall be presumed valid unless additional written statements 33 or documents are delivered to the county commissioner of 34 elections office prior to the date that provisional ballots 35 -11- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 11/ 12
S.F. _____ H.F. _____ are considered and the precinct election board determines that 1 such additional evidence successfully rebuts the presumption 2 of validity. 3 Under current law, a voter whose name is not on the election 4 register but who affirms or insists that the voter is a 5 registrant of that precinct is allowed to vote a provisional 6 ballot. The bill provides that the voter must also provide 7 proof of identification before being allowed to vote a 8 provisional ballot under these circumstances. 9 The bill amends Code section 49.53, relating to the election 10 notice to be published by the county commissioner of elections, 11 to require that election notices include a statement that all 12 voters will be required to show proof of identification before 13 casting a ballot. 14 The bill requires that persons residing in a hospital or 15 health care facility who apply to vote by absentee ballot shall 16 present proof of identification. If the applicant is unable 17 to present proof of identification, the applicant is allowed 18 to execute an affidavit in the form prescribed by the state 19 commissioner of elections, stating that the applicant does not 20 have and is unable to obtain proof of identification and that 21 the applicant resides in a hospital or health care facility. 22 If the applicant refuses to execute such an affidavit and is 23 unable to present proof of identification, the applicant is 24 allowed to cast a provisional ballot. 25 The bill also provides that a person obtaining a 26 nonoperator’s identification card for the purpose of voting 27 shall not be charged for the issuance of the nonoperator’s 28 identification card. The bill requires that nonoperator’s 29 identification cards issued to serve as proof of identification 30 for voting be labeled by the department of transportation as 31 “For Voting Purposes Only”. 32 The bill applies to elections held on or after January 1, 33 2015. 34 -12- LSB 5276XD (6) 85 aw/sc 12/ 12
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