Bill Text: IA SSB3131 | 2013-2014 | 85th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A study bill for an act relating to the administration of elections and voter registration by modifying the close of registration prior to a primary election, requiring that absentee ballots be received before the polls close on election day, and allowing for changes to the envelopes provided to absentee voters.
Spectrum: Unknown
Status: (N/A - Dead) 2014-01-30 - In State Government [SSB3131 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2013-SSB3131-Introduced.html
Senate
Study
Bill
3131
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
STATE
GOVERNMENT
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
DANIELSON)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
the
administration
of
elections
and
voter
1
registration
by
modifying
the
close
of
registration
prior
2
to
a
primary
election,
requiring
that
absentee
ballots
3
be
received
before
the
polls
close
on
election
day,
and
4
allowing
for
changes
to
the
envelopes
provided
to
absentee
5
voters.
6
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
7
TLSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
S.F.
_____
Section
1.
Section
48A.9,
subsection
1,
Code
2014,
is
1
amended
to
read
as
follows:
2
1.
Registration
closes
at
5:00
p.m.
eleven
days
before
each
3
election
except
primary
and
general
elections.
For
primary
and
4
general
elections,
registration
closes
at
5:00
p.m.
ten
days
5
before
the
election.
An
eligible
elector
may
register
during
6
the
time
registration
is
closed
in
the
elector’s
precinct
but
7
the
registration
shall
not
become
effective
until
registration
8
opens
again
in
the
elector’s
precinct,
except
as
otherwise
9
provided
in
section
48A.7A
.
10
Sec.
2.
Section
48A.26,
subsection
3,
Code
2014,
is
amended
11
to
read
as
follows:
12
3.
If
the
registration
form
is
missing
required
information
13
pursuant
to
section
48A.11,
subsection
8
,
the
acknowledgment
14
shall
advise
the
applicant
what
additional
information
is
15
required.
The
commissioner
shall
enclose
a
new
registration
16
form
for
the
applicant
to
use.
If
the
registration
form
has
17
no
address,
the
commissioner
shall
make
a
reasonable
effort
18
to
determine
where
the
acknowledgment
should
be
sent.
If
the
19
incomplete
registration
form
is
received
during
the
period
in
20
which
registration
is
closed
pursuant
to
section
48A.9
but
21
by
5:00
p.m.
on
the
Saturday
before
the
election
for
general
22
and
primary
elections
or
by
5:00
p.m.
on
the
Friday
before
the
23
election
for
all
other
elections,
the
commissioner
shall
send
24
a
notice
advising
the
applicant
of
election
day
and
in-person
25
absentee
registration
procedures
under
section
48A.7A
.
26
Sec.
3.
Section
50.20,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
27
follows:
28
50.20
Notice
of
number
of
provisional
ballots.
29
The
commissioner
shall
compile
a
list
of
the
number
of
30
provisional
ballots
cast
under
section
49.81
in
each
precinct.
31
The
list
shall
be
made
available
to
the
public
as
soon
as
32
possible,
but
in
no
case
later
than
9:00
a.m.
on
the
second
33
day
following
the
election.
Any
elector
may
examine
the
34
list
during
normal
office
hours,
and
may
also
examine
the
35
-1-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
1/
12
S.F.
_____
affidavit
affidavits
on
the
envelopes
bearing
containing
the
1
ballots
of
challenged
electors
until
the
reconvening
of
the
2
special
precinct
board
as
required
by
this
chapter
.
Only
those
3
persons
so
permitted
by
section
53.23,
subsection
4
,
shall
have
4
access
to
the
affidavits
while
that
board
is
in
session.
Any
5
elector
may
present
written
statements
or
documents,
supporting
6
or
opposing
the
counting
of
any
provisional
ballot,
at
the
7
commissioner’s
office
until
the
reconvening
of
the
special
8
precinct
board.
9
Sec.
4.
Section
50.22,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
10
follows:
11
50.22
Special
precinct
board
to
determine
challenges
and
12
canvass
absentee
ballots.
13
1.
Upon
being
reconvened,
the
special
precinct
election
14
board
shall
review
the
information
upon
the
envelopes
bearing
15
the
provisional
ballots,
and
all
evidence
submitted
in
support
16
of
or
opposition
to
the
right
of
each
challenged
person
to
vote
17
in
the
election.
The
board
may
divide
itself
into
panels
of
18
not
less
than
three
members
each
in
order
to
hear
and
determine
19
two
or
more
challenges
simultaneously,
but
each
panel
shall
20
meet
the
requirements
of
section
49.12
as
regards
political
21
party
affiliation
of
the
members
of
each
panel.
22
2.
The
decision
to
count
or
reject
each
ballot
shall
be
23
made
upon
the
basis
of
the
information
given
on
the
envelope
24
containing
the
provisional
ballot,
the
evidence
concerning
25
the
challenge,
the
registration
,
and
the
returned
receipts
of
26
registration.
27
3.
If
a
provisional
ballot
is
rejected,
the
person
casting
28
the
ballot
shall
be
notified
by
the
commissioner
within
ten
29
days
of
the
reason
for
the
rejection,
on
the
form
prescribed
30
by
the
state
commissioner
pursuant
to
section
53.25
,
and
the
31
envelope
containing
the
provisional
ballot
shall
be
preserved
32
unopened
and
disposed
of
in
the
same
manner
as
spoiled
ballots.
33
The
provisional
ballots
which
are
accepted
shall
be
counted
34
in
the
manner
prescribed
by
section
53.23,
subsection
5
.
The
35
-2-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
2/
12
S.F.
_____
commissioner
shall
make
public
the
number
of
provisional
1
ballots
rejected
and
not
counted,
at
the
time
of
the
canvass
of
2
the
election.
3
The
special
precinct
board
shall
also
canvass
any
absentee
4
ballots
which
were
received
after
the
polls
closed
in
5
accordance
with
section
53.17
.
If
necessary,
they
shall
6
reconvene
again
on
the
day
of
the
canvass
by
the
board
of
7
supervisors
to
canvass
any
absentee
ballots
which
were
timely
8
received.
9
4.
The
special
precinct
board
shall
submit
their
tally
list
10
to
the
supervisors
before
the
conclusion
of
the
canvass
by
the
11
board.
12
Sec.
5.
Section
50.24,
subsection
2,
Code
2014,
is
amended
13
to
read
as
follows:
14
2.
Upon
convening,
the
board
shall
open
and
canvass
the
15
tally
lists
and
shall
prepare
abstracts
stating
the
number
of
16
votes
cast
in
the
county,
or
in
that
portion
of
the
county
17
in
which
the
election
was
held,
for
each
office
and
on
each
18
question
on
the
ballot
for
the
election.
The
board
shall
19
contact
the
chairperson
of
the
special
precinct
board
before
20
adjourning
and
include
in
the
canvass
any
absentee
ballots
21
which
were
received
after
the
polls
closed
in
accordance
with
22
section
53.17
and
which
were
canvassed
by
the
special
precinct
23
board
after
election
day.
The
abstract
shall
further
indicate
24
the
name
of
each
person
who
received
votes
for
each
office
on
25
the
ballot,
and
the
number
of
votes
each
person
named
received
26
for
that
office,
and
the
number
of
votes
for
and
against
each
27
question
submitted
to
the
voters
at
the
election.
The
votes
28
of
all
write-in
candidates
who
each
received
less
than
five
29
percent
of
the
votes
cast
for
an
office
shall
be
reported
30
collectively
under
the
heading
“scattering”.
31
Sec.
6.
Section
53.2,
subsection
6,
Code
2014,
is
amended
32
to
read
as
follows:
33
6.
If
an
application
for
an
absentee
ballot
is
received
34
from
an
eligible
elector
who
is
not
a
registered
voter
35
-3-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
3/
12
S.F.
_____
the
commissioner
shall
send
the
eligible
elector
a
voter
1
registration
form
and
another
absentee
ballot
application
form.
2
If
the
application
is
received
after
the
time
registration
3
closes
pursuant
to
section
48A.9
but
by
5:00
p.m.
on
the
4
Saturday
before
the
election
for
general
and
primary
elections
5
or
by
5:00
p.m.
on
the
Friday
before
the
election
for
all
other
6
elections,
the
commissioner
shall
notify
the
applicant
by
7
mail
of
the
election
day
and
in-person
absentee
registration
8
provisions
of
section
48A.7A
.
In
addition
to
notification
9
by
mail,
the
commissioner
shall
also
attempt
to
contact
the
10
applicant
by
any
other
method
available
to
the
commissioner.
11
Sec.
7.
Section
53.8,
subsection
1,
Code
2014,
is
amended
12
to
read
as
follows:
13
1.
a.
Upon
receipt
of
an
application
for
an
absentee
ballot
14
and
immediately
after
the
absentee
ballots
are
printed,
the
15
commissioner
shall
mail
an
absentee
ballot
to
the
applicant
16
within
twenty-four
hours,
except
as
otherwise
provided
in
17
subsection
3
.
The
absentee
ballot
shall
be
sent
to
the
18
registered
voter
by
one
of
the
following
methods:
19
(1)
The
absentee
ballot
shall
be
enclosed
in
an
unsealed
20
envelope
bearing
imprinted
with
a
serial
number
and
affidavit.
21
The
absentee
ballot
and
unsealed
affidavit
envelope
shall
22
be
enclosed
in
or
with
a
an
unsealed
return
envelope
marked
23
postage
paid
which
bears
the
same
serial
number
as
the
unsealed
24
affidavit
envelope.
The
absentee
ballot,
unsealed
affidavit
25
envelope,
and
return
envelope
shall
be
enclosed
in
a
third
26
envelope
to
be
sent
to
the
registered
voter.
If
the
ballot
27
cannot
be
folded
so
that
all
of
the
votes
cast
on
the
ballot
28
will
be
hidden,
the
commissioner
shall
also
enclose
a
secrecy
29
envelope
with
the
absentee
ballot.
30
(2)
The
absentee
ballot
shall
be
enclosed
in
an
unsealed
31
return
envelope
imprinted
with
a
serial
number
and
affidavit
32
and
marked
postage
paid.
The
absentee
ballot
and
return
33
envelope
shall
be
enclosed
in
a
second
envelope
to
be
sent
34
to
the
registered
voter.
If
the
ballot
cannot
be
folded
so
35
-4-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
4/
12
S.F.
_____
that
all
of
the
votes
cast
on
the
ballot
will
be
hidden,
the
1
commissioner
shall
also
enclose
a
secrecy
envelope
with
the
2
absentee
ballot.
3
b.
The
affidavit
shall
be
imprinted
on
the
appropriate
4
envelope
in
a
form
prescribed
by
the
state
commissioner
of
5
elections.
6
Sec.
8.
Section
53.10,
subsection
2,
Code
2014,
is
amended
7
to
read
as
follows:
8
2.
Each
person
who
wishes
to
vote
by
absentee
ballot
at
9
the
commissioner’s
office
shall
first
sign
an
application
for
10
a
ballot
including
the
following
information:
name,
current
11
address,
and
the
election
for
which
the
ballot
is
requested.
12
The
person
may
report
a
change
of
address
or
other
information
13
on
the
person’s
voter
registration
record
at
that
time.
The
14
registered
voter
shall
immediately
mark
the
ballot;
enclose
15
the
ballot
in
a
secrecy
envelope,
if
necessary,
and
seal
it
16
in
an
affidavit
the
envelope
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
;
17
subscribe
to
the
affidavit
on
the
reverse
side
of
the
envelope;
18
and
return
the
absentee
ballot
to
the
commissioner.
The
19
commissioner
shall
record
the
numbers
appearing
on
the
20
application
and
affidavit
envelope
along
with
the
name
of
the
21
registered
voter.
22
Sec.
9.
Section
53.16,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
23
follows:
24
53.16
Subscribing
to
affidavit.
25
After
marking
the
ballot,
the
voter
shall
make
and
subscribe
26
to
the
affidavit
on
the
reverse
side
of
the
affidavit
envelope
27
or
on
the
return
envelope
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
,
and
28
fold
the
ballot
or
ballots,
separately,
so
as
to
conceal
29
the
markings
on
them,
and
deposit
them
in
the
envelope,
and
30
securely
seal
the
envelope.
31
Sec.
10.
Section
53.17,
subsection
1,
unnumbered
paragraph
32
1,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
33
The
If
the
commissioner
mailed
the
ballot
pursuant
to
34
section
53.8,
subsection
1,
paragraph
“a”
,
subparagraph
(1),
35
-5-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
5/
12
S.F.
_____
the
sealed
affidavit
envelope
containing
the
absentee
ballot
1
shall
be
enclosed
in
a
return
envelope
which
shall
be
securely
2
sealed.
If
the
commissioner
mailed
the
ballot
pursuant
to
3
section
53.8,
subsection
1,
paragraph
“a”
,
subparagraph
(2),
4
the
absentee
ballot
shall
be
enclosed
in
the
return
envelope
5
which
shall
be
securely
sealed.
The
sealed
return
envelope
6
shall
be
returned
to
the
commissioner
by
one
of
the
following
7
methods:
8
Sec.
11.
Section
53.17,
subsection
2,
Code
2014,
is
amended
9
to
read
as
follows:
10
2.
In
order
for
the
ballot
to
be
counted,
the
return
11
envelope
must
be
received
in
the
commissioner’s
office
before
12
the
polls
close
on
election
day
or
be
clearly
postmarked
by
an
13
officially
authorized
postal
service
not
later
than
the
day
14
before
the
election
and
received
by
the
commissioner
not
later
15
than
noon
on
the
Monday
following
the
election
.
16
Sec.
12.
Section
53.17,
subsection
3,
Code
2014,
is
amended
17
by
striking
the
subsection.
18
Sec.
13.
Section
53.17,
subsection
4,
paragraph
f,
Code
19
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
20
f.
A
statement
that
the
completed
absentee
ballot
will
21
be
delivered
to
the
commissioner’s
office
within
seventy-two
22
hours
of
retrieving
it
from
the
voter
or
before
the
closing
of
23
the
polls
on
election
day,
whichever
is
earlier,
or
that
the
24
completed
absentee
ballot
will
be
mailed
to
the
commissioner
25
within
seventy-two
hours
of
retrieving
it
from
the
voter
or
26
within
time
to
be
postmarked
not
later
than
the
day
before
the
27
election,
whichever
is
earlier
.
28
Sec.
14.
Section
53.18,
subsections
2
and
3,
Code
2014,
are
29
amended
to
read
as
follows:
30
2.
If
the
commissioner
receives
the
return
envelope
31
containing
the
completed
absentee
ballot
by
5:00
p.m.
on
32
the
Saturday
before
the
election
for
general
and
primary
33
elections
and
by
5:00
p.m.
on
the
Friday
before
the
election
34
for
all
other
elections,
the
commissioner
shall
review
the
35
-6-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
6/
12
S.F.
_____
affidavit
imprinted
on
the
return
envelope,
if
applicable,
for
1
completeness
or
shall
open
the
return
envelope
to
review
the
2
affidavit
for
completeness.
If
the
affidavit
is
incomplete,
3
the
commissioner
shall,
within
twenty-four
hours
of
the
time
4
the
envelope
was
received,
notify
the
voter
of
that
fact
and
5
that
the
voter
may
complete
the
affidavit
in
person
at
the
6
office
of
the
commissioner
by
5:00
p.m.
on
the
day
before
the
7
election,
vote
a
replacement
ballot
in
the
manner
and
within
8
the
time
period
provided
in
subsection
3
,
or
appear
at
the
9
voter’s
precinct
polling
place
on
election
day
and
cast
a
10
ballot
in
accordance
with
section
53.19,
subsection
3
.
11
3.
If
the
affidavit
envelope
or
the
return
envelope
12
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
contains
a
defect
that
would
13
cause
the
absentee
ballot
to
be
rejected
by
the
absentee
14
and
special
voters
precinct
board,
the
commissioner
shall
15
immediately
notify
the
voter
of
that
fact
and
that
the
16
voter’s
absentee
ballot
shall
not
be
counted
unless
the
17
voter
requests
and
returns
a
replacement
ballot
in
the
time
18
permitted
under
section
53.17,
subsection
2
.
The
voter
may
19
request
a
replacement
ballot
in
person,
in
writing,
or
over
20
the
telephone.
The
same
serial
number
that
was
assigned
21
to
the
records
of
the
original
absentee
ballot
application
22
shall
be
used
on
the
envelope
and
records
of
the
replacement
23
ballot.
The
affidavit
envelope
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
24
and
containing
the
completed
replacement
ballot
shall
be
25
marked
“Replacement
ballot”.
The
affidavit
envelope
imprinted
26
with
the
affidavit
and
containing
the
original
ballot
shall
27
be
marked
“Defective”
and
the
replacement
ballot
shall
be
28
attached
to
the
affidavit
such
envelope
containing
the
original
29
ballot
and
shall
be
stored
in
a
secure
place
until
they
are
30
delivered
to
the
absentee
and
special
voters
precinct
board,
31
notwithstanding
sections
53.26
and
53.27
.
32
Sec.
15.
Section
53.21,
subsection
2,
paragraph
b,
Code
33
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
34
b.
The
voter
shall
enclose
one
copy
of
the
above
statement
35
-7-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
7/
12
S.F.
_____
in
the
return
envelope
along
with
the
affidavit
envelope
,
if
1
the
voter
was
mailed
a
separate
affidavit
envelope,
and
shall
2
retain
a
copy
for
the
voter’s
records.
3
Sec.
16.
Section
53.23,
subsection
3,
paragraph
b,
4
subparagraph
(1),
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
5
(1)
The
commissioner
may
direct
the
board
to
meet
on
the
day
6
before
the
election
for
the
purpose
of
reviewing
the
absentee
7
voters’
affidavits
appearing
on
the
sealed
affidavit
envelopes.
8
If
in
the
commissioner’s
judgment
this
procedure
is
necessary
9
due
to
the
number
of
absentee
ballots
received,
the
members
of
10
the
board
may
open
the
sealed
affidavit
envelopes
and
remove
11
the
secrecy
envelope
containing
the
ballot,
but
under
no
12
circumstances
shall
a
secrecy
envelope
or
a
return
envelope
13
imprinted
with
an
affidavit
be
opened
before
the
board
convenes
14
on
election
day,
except
as
provided
in
paragraph
“c”
.
If
the
15
affidavit
envelopes
are
opened
before
election
day
pursuant
16
to
this
paragraph
“b”
,
two
observers,
one
appointed
by
each
17
of
the
two
political
parties
referred
to
in
section
49.13,
18
subsection
2
,
shall
witness
the
proceedings.
The
observers
19
shall
be
appointed
by
the
county
chairperson
or,
if
the
20
county
chairperson
fails
to
make
an
appointment,
by
the
state
21
chairperson.
However,
if
either
or
both
political
parties
fail
22
to
appoint
an
observer,
the
commissioner
may
continue
with
the
23
proceedings.
24
Sec.
17.
Section
53.23,
subsection
5,
Code
2014,
is
amended
25
to
read
as
follows:
26
5.
The
special
precinct
election
board
shall
preserve
27
the
secrecy
of
all
absentee
and
provisional
ballots.
After
28
the
affidavits
on
the
envelopes
have
been
reviewed
and
the
29
qualifications
of
the
persons
casting
the
ballots
have
been
30
determined,
those
that
have
been
accepted
for
counting
shall
31
be
opened.
The
ballots
shall
be
removed
from
the
affidavit
32
envelopes
or
return
envelopes
imprinted
with
the
affidavit,
as
33
applicable,
without
being
unfolded
or
examined,
and
then
shall
34
be
thoroughly
intermingled,
after
which
they
shall
be
unfolded
35
-8-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
8/
12
S.F.
_____
and
tabulated.
If
secrecy
folders
or
envelopes
are
used
with
1
provisional
paper
ballots,
the
ballots
shall
be
removed
from
2
the
secrecy
folders
after
the
ballots
have
been
intermingled.
3
Sec.
18.
Section
53.25,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
4
follows:
5
53.25
Rejecting
ballot.
6
1.
If
the
absentee
voter’s
affidavit
lacks
the
voter’s
7
signature,
if
the
applicant
is
not
a
duly
registered
voter
on
8
election
day
in
the
precinct
where
the
absentee
ballot
was
9
cast,
if
the
affidavit
envelope
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
10
contains
more
than
one
ballot
of
any
one
kind,
or
if
the
11
voter
has
voted
in
person,
such
vote
shall
be
rejected
by
the
12
absentee
and
special
voters
precinct
board.
If
the
affidavit
13
envelope
or
return
envelope
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
is
14
open,
or
has
been
opened
and
resealed,
or
if
the
ballot
is
15
not
enclosed
in
the
affidavit
such
envelope,
and
an
affidavit
16
envelope
or
return
envelope
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
with
17
the
same
serial
number
and
marked
“Replacement
ballot”
is
18
not
attached
as
provided
in
section
53.18
,
the
vote
shall
be
19
rejected
by
the
absentee
and
special
voters
precinct
board.
20
2.
If
the
absentee
ballot
is
rejected
prior
to
the
opening
21
of
the
affidavit
envelope
or
return
envelope
imprinted
with
the
22
affidavit
,
the
voter
casting
the
ballot
shall
be
notified
by
a
23
precinct
election
official
by
the
time
the
canvass
is
completed
24
of
the
reason
for
the
rejection
on
a
form
prescribed
by
the
25
state
commissioner
of
elections.
26
Sec.
19.
Section
53.27,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
27
follows:
28
53.27
Rejection
of
ballot
——
return
of
envelope.
29
If
the
ballot
is
rejected,
the
affidavit
envelope
,
imprinted
30
with
the
affidavit
of
,
with
the
voter
endorsed
voter’s
31
endorsement
thereon,
shall
be
returned
with
the
rejected
ballot
32
in
the
envelope
endorsed
“Defective
ballots”.
33
Sec.
20.
Section
53.30,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
34
follows:
35
-9-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
9/
12
S.F.
_____
53.30
Ballots,
ballot
envelopes,
and
other
information
1
preserved.
2
At
the
conclusion
of
each
meeting
of
the
absentee
and
3
special
voter’s
precinct
board,
the
board
shall
securely
4
seal
all
ballots
counted
by
them
in
the
manner
prescribed
in
5
section
50.12
.
The
ballot
envelopes,
including
the
affidavit
6
envelope
having
the
registered
voter’s
affidavit
on
it
if
an
7
affidavit
envelope
was
provided
,
the
return
envelope,
and
8
secrecy
envelope
bearing
the
signatures
of
precinct
election
9
officials,
as
required
by
section
53.23
,
shall
be
preserved.
10
All
applications
for
absentee
ballots,
ballots
rejected
without
11
being
opened,
absentee
ballot
logs,
and
any
other
documents
12
pertaining
to
the
absentee
ballot
process
shall
be
preserved
13
until
such
time
as
the
documents
may
be
destroyed
pursuant
to
14
section
50.19
.
15
Sec.
21.
Section
53.32,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
16
follows:
17
53.32
Ballot
of
deceased
voter.
18
When
it
shall
be
made
to
appear
by
due
proof
to
the
precinct
19
election
officials
that
any
elector,
who
has
so
marked
and
20
forwarded
a
ballot,
has
died
before
the
affidavit
envelope
21
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
is
opened,
then
the
ballot
of
22
such
deceased
voter
shall
be
endorsed,
“Rejected
because
voter
23
is
dead”,
and
be
returned
to
the
commissioner
;
but
the
.
The
24
casting
of
the
ballot
of
a
deceased
voter
shall
not
invalidate
25
the
election.
26
Sec.
22.
Section
53.38,
Code
2014,
is
amended
to
read
as
27
follows:
28
53.38
What
constitutes
registration.
29
Whenever
a
ballot
is
requested
pursuant
to
section
53.39
or
30
53.45
on
behalf
of
a
voter
in
the
armed
forces
of
the
United
31
States,
the
affidavit
upon
the
affidavit
envelope
imprinted
32
with
the
affidavit
of
such
voter,
if
the
voter
is
found
to
33
be
an
eligible
elector
of
the
county
to
which
the
ballot
is
34
submitted,
shall
constitute
a
sufficient
registration
under
35
-10-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
10/
12
S.F.
_____
chapter
48A
.
A
completed
federal
postcard
registration
and
1
federal
absentee
ballot
request
form
submitted
by
such
eligible
2
elector
shall
also
constitute
a
sufficient
registration
under
3
chapter
48A
.
The
commissioner
shall
place
the
voter’s
name
4
on
the
registration
record
as
a
registered
voter
if
it
does
5
not
already
appear
there.
The
identification
requirements
of
6
section
48A.8
and
the
verification
requirements
of
section
7
48A.25A
do
not
apply
to
persons
who
register
to
vote
under
this
8
division
.
9
Sec.
23.
Section
53.40,
subsection
3,
Code
2014,
is
amended
10
to
read
as
follows:
11
3.
If
the
affidavit
on
the
affidavit
envelope
imprinted
12
with
the
affidavit
shows
that
the
affiant
is
not
a
qualified
13
voter
on
the
day
of
the
election
at
which
the
ballot
is
14
offered
for
voting,
the
envelope
shall
not
be
opened,
but
15
the
envelope
and
ballot
contained
in
the
envelope
shall
be
16
preserved
and
returned
by
the
precinct
election
officials
to
17
the
commissioner,
who
shall
preserve
them
for
the
period
of
18
time
and
under
the
conditions
provided
for
in
sections
50.12
,
19
50.13
,
50.15
,
and
50.19
.
20
Sec.
24.
Section
53.44,
unnumbered
paragraph
1,
Code
2014,
21
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
22
The
affidavit
on
the
affidavit
envelope
imprinted
with
the
23
affidavit
used
in
connection
with
voting
by
absentee
ballot
24
under
this
division
by
members
of
the
armed
forces
of
the
25
United
States
need
not
be
notarized
or
witnessed,
but
the
26
affidavit
on
such
envelope
shall
be
completed
and
signed
by
the
27
voter.
28
Sec.
25.
REPEAL.
Sections
53.13
and
53.14,
Code
2014,
are
29
repealed.
30
EXPLANATION
31
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
32
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
33
This
bill
relates
to
the
administration
of
elections
and
34
voter
registration.
35
-11-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
11/
12
S.F.
_____
Under
current
law,
voter
registration
closes
at
5:00
p.m.
1
10
days
prior
to
a
general
or
primary
election
and
11
days
2
prior
to
all
other
elections.
The
bill
requires
that
voter
3
registration
close
11
days
prior
to
primary
elections.
4
Relating
to
completed
absentee
ballots
mailed
to
the
5
commissioner,
the
bill
provides
that
in
order
for
an
absentee
6
ballot
to
be
counted,
the
return
envelope
must
be
received
in
7
the
commissioner’s
office
before
the
polls
close
on
election
8
day.
Under
current
law,
in
order
to
be
counted,
the
absentee
9
ballot
must
be
received
before
the
polls
close
on
election
10
day
or
must
be
postmarked
not
later
than
the
day
before
the
11
election
and
received
by
the
county
commissioner
of
elections
12
no
later
than
12:00
p.m.
on
the
Monday
following
that
election.
13
Relating
to
the
envelopes
provided
to
absentee
voters,
under
14
current
law,
absentee
ballots
mailed
to
a
voter
are
required
15
to
be
enclosed
in
an
unsealed
envelope
bearing
a
serial
number
16
and
an
affidavit,
which
are
then
required
to
be
enclosed
in
or
17
with
a
return
envelope,
all
of
which
are
then
required
to
be
18
enclosed
in
a
third
envelope
to
be
sent
to
the
registered
voter
19
requesting
an
absentee
ballot.
20
The
bill
allows
for
an
affidavit
to
be
imprinted
on
the
21
return
envelope.
If
a
return
envelope
imprinted
with
the
22
affidavit
is
used,
absentee
ballots
mailed
to
a
voter
are
23
required
to
be
enclosed
in
the
unsealed
return
envelope
24
imprinted
with
the
affidavit
which
is
required
to
be
enclosed
25
in
a
second
envelope
to
be
sent
to
the
registered
voter
26
requesting
an
absentee
ballot.
The
bill
allows
a
county
27
commissioner
of
elections
to
continue
sending
absentee
ballots
28
as
provided
under
current
law
or
to
send
absentee
ballots
29
utilizing
a
return
envelope
imprinted
with
the
affidavit.
The
30
bill
makes
additional
conforming
changes.
31
The
bill
also
repeals
Code
section
53.14
which
requires
that
32
the
printed
affidavit
designate
the
voter’s
party
affiliation
33
if
the
ballot
enclosed
is
a
primary
election
ballot.
34
-12-
LSB
5683XC
(8)
85
aw/sc
12/
12
