All Roll Calls
Yes: 97 • No: 45
IowaHF 92891st General Assembly (2025–2026)House
A bill for an act relating to the recounting and contesting of elections, and providing penalties. (Formerly HF 596.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New courts and appeals for election contests
Beginning July 1, 2025, contest courts are reworked and standardized. For presidential electors and Congress, the court has the chief justice plus five district judges, and the secretary of state serves as clerk (or the supreme court clerk if needed). For most state offices, five district judges hear the case; for county offices, the contestant and incumbent pick members and a presiding judge is set on a short timeline. The chief justice selects contest‑court members by January 30 of each odd‑numbered year and fills vacancies; parties may appeal contest decisions, and judgments filed with the supreme court clerk carry the force of a supreme court judgment. In county appeals, a stay requires a bond of at least double six months of pay, and affirmed judgments can be collected from the bond; one primary‑election subsection is repealed to align with these changes.
Clear rules for judge retention
Beginning July 1, 2025, judges and district court clerks are retained only if they get more yes votes than no votes. County boards canvass on the Monday or Tuesday after the election and promptly certify yes and no counts to the state election commissioner.
How and when to seek recounts
Beginning July 1, 2025, you can ask for a recount when the margin is under 1% or under 50 votes, whichever is smaller. File by 5:00 p.m. on the third day after the county canvass; for a city runoff, file by 5:00 p.m. the next day. For statewide or federal offices, a margin under 0.15% triggers a state‑run recount; the state commissioner orders counties to start within seven days, and statewide candidates pay only one bond. Each recount board has three members (one from each side plus a third), and each candidate may name up to five observers per county. The board must finish and file its report by the 18th day after the request; the parties may submit a written agreement to accept the canvass and end the recount.
Recounts and contests for ballot questions
Beginning July 1, 2025, a petition for a ballot‑measure recount is due within three days after the canvass. A statewide measure qualifies when the margin is under 0.15%; other measures qualify when the margin is under 1% or under 50 votes, whichever is smaller. The petition needs the larger of 10 eligible voters’ signatures or 1% of all votes cast on the measure, and signers must be eligible to vote on it. Contests are tried by a three‑member panel (one named by petitioners, one by the commissioner, and a third chosen together or by the chief judge). The final decision can be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.
Standard canvass dates for local elections
Beginning July 1, 2025, county boards meet on the first Monday or Tuesday after each election, including primaries, to canvass results. For cities and schools in more than one county, the controlling commissioner holds a second canvass on the second Monday or Tuesday, or within two business days after a recount ends. Counties must send abstracts and write‑in tallies; write‑ins under 5% are grouped as “scattering.” For merged‑area elections, the board meets the second Monday or Tuesday, the controlling commissioner issues certificates right away, and winners take the oath. Special precinct boards reconvene at noon on the second day after the election, with a holiday adjustment.
How recounts are run and policed
Beginning July 1, 2025, recounts use the same machines and program used on election day unless that program is believed to be wrong; a hand recount is allowed only for major problems, and the same method must be used in every precinct. Any board member may expand the recount to more precincts in the county without posting more bond. County commissioners can ask for no‑bond administrative audits when they suspect machine or programming errors; a special precinct board runs the audit, and parties can send observers. The state election commissioner can stop a recount, take custody of ballots and machines, assign staff, and fine a county commissioner up to $25,000 for purposeful violations. The law also repeals two subsections in the recount laws to align with these rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 31 • No: 14
House vote • 3/25/2025
Passed House
Yes: 66 • No: 31
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor.
6/2/2025GovernorReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor.
5/19/2025SenateExplanation of vote.
4/22/2025legislatureMessage from Senate.
4/15/2025SenateExplanation of vote.
4/15/2025legislatureImmediate message.
4/14/2025legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 31, nays 14.
4/14/2025SenateSubstituted for SF 543.
4/14/2025legislaturePlaced on calendar under unfinished business.
4/3/2025legislatureRead first time, attached to SF 543.
3/26/2025legislatureMessage from House.
3/26/2025HouseImmediate message.
3/25/2025legislaturePassed House, yeas 66, nays 31.
3/25/2025HouseAmendment H-1155 adopted, as amended.
3/25/2025legislatureAmendment H-1172 to amendment H-1155 filed, adopted.
3/25/2025legislatureAmendment H-1155 filed.
3/24/2025legislatureIntroduced, placed on calendar.
3/12/2025legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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