All Roll Calls
Yes: 128 • No: 111
IowaHF 95491st General Assembly (2025–2026)House
A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 281.) Effective date: 07/01/2025, 01/01/2026. Applicability date: 01/01/2024.
Sponsored By: COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
Signed by Governor
state government
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
15 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 9 mixed.
One statewide voter file with yearly checks
Iowa runs one central voter registration system for the whole state. It matches records with driver, court, and death files to keep lists accurate. Each year in the first quarter, the state checks all voters and cancels any found ineligible, and reports totals by April 30. The DOT must also send the state a list of people age 17+ who gave noncitizen documents. Counties cannot keep separate systems and must keep voter records electronically, including recent voting history and updated phone numbers.
Election misconduct must be investigated
Alleged election misconduct must be investigated by the attorney general, a county sheriff, or other law enforcement with jurisdiction. Investigators must send results to the attorney general and the state election commissioner. The attorney general must say whether charges will be filed. Certain information held by the commissioner stays confidential under state law.
Electoral College nominees must sign pledge
People nominated to be presidential electors, and alternates, must sign a state form. The pledge says they will serve and vote for their party’s nominees for President and Vice President if chosen.
Special elections only on permitted Tuesdays
All special elections must be on a Tuesday. They cannot be held on the first, second, or third Tuesdays right before or right after a primary or general election. The same blackout Tuesdays apply around city and school elections.
Uniform 22-month ballot retention rules
Counties must keep all ballots for 22 months. Sealed ballot packages may be opened only for recounts, contests, audits, or lawful destruction. For non‑federal elections, other election materials can be destroyed after 22 months if no contest is pending; if a contest exists, keep them until it is finally decided or 22 months, whichever is later.
Noncitizen self-report pauses registration
If you say you are not a U.S. citizen on a voter form but sign the citizenship oath, your record is marked "unconfirmed." Election officials must verify it before they make it active. You are not added as an active voter until the record is confirmed.
More signatures to protest city budgets
To file a city budget protest, you need signatures equal to 0.25% of votes cast for Governor in the city’s last general election. The total must be at least 10 and no more than 100 signatures.
Voter ID cards, PINs, and stricter checks
Active voters not found in DOT files get a free voter ID card with a four-digit PIN. A voter’s verification number can be a driver’s license, nonoperator ID, or the state‑assigned four‑digit PIN. The voter eligibility form must include the statement, “I am a citizen of the United States,” and officials may record citizenship status at the polls when allowed. Counties must cancel a registration if a person submits documents or reports to an agency that they are not a U.S. citizen, and must send a notice when they cancel. Voter records use standard status codes; an unconfirmed record becomes active when the voter proves eligibility. If a mailed acknowledgment comes back undeliverable and the voter does not reply within 14 days, the county marks the voter inactive and notifies state and local officials.
Bans ranked-choice and candidate help in booths
Beginning January 1, 2026, the state bans ranked-choice and instant-runoff voting. Ballots where voters rank candidates and votes transfer in rounds are not allowed. Starting the same date, anyone running for office cannot be in a voter’s booth, even to help. Voters who need help can use two officers or another person they choose, but not a candidate.
County hospital board rule removed (retroactive)
The law deletes subsection 3 of Iowa Code section 347.9 for county hospital boards. This change applies to people elected to a county hospital board on or after January 1, 2024.
Faster counts and stricter provisional rules
The absentee board must meet by 9:00 a.m. on election day and allow time to finish counting absentee ballots by 10:00 p.m. A party in an election contest can ask the state to certify a program participant’s eligibility or the validity of that absentee ballot, using the voter’s four‑digit PIN. Provisional ballots not cured by the legal deadline are rejected. Officials must base decisions on the envelope, any challenge evidence, registration records, and returned receipts.
New candidate affidavits, filings, and deadlines
Candidates must sign an affidavit noting that a felony or infamous crime disqualifies them unless their rights are restored. They must also affirm they cannot appear on the same ballot for the same office under a different party or method. Filing windows change: state filings are due no earlier than 92 days and by 5:00 p.m. on the 74th day before the June primary; city filings are no earlier than 72 days and by 5:00 p.m. on the 47th day before the city election; presidential filings stay 99 to 81 days before the general. Certificates of nomination are due at least 74 days (state) or 67 days (county) before the June primary date; withdrawals are due at least 81 days before the election (76 days for listed presidential filings). Vacancies must be filled at least 76, 71, 69, or 42 days out, depending on the office. Objections to nominations can be sustained only for legal defects in the certificate itself.
State takes lead; certify e-poll books
The secretary of state is the state commissioner of elections and runs a division of elections. The commissioner can set uniform forms, practices, and guidance statewide. Counties cannot use home‑rule powers to go beyond state election laws and directives. Counties may use an electronic poll book only if the state certifies the product and its security.
Stricter test for party status and canvass
A group is a political party only if it earned at least 2% of the vote for President (or Governor where used) in each of the last three general elections. The secretary of state invites one representative from each party that meets this test to state and county canvasses; the canvass still proceeds if they do not attend. Certain ethics‑code exemptions apply only to officials of parties that meet the same test.
Stronger election security and oversight
The state commissioner can examine county election records to check complaints and compliance. Counties must give written explanations when required. Information from these exams stays confidential under section 22.7. Counties must tell the commissioner when federal, state, or other entities do cybersecurity or physical threat assessments at the county office. The commissioner may share threat information with other government agencies to protect election systems. The commissioner sets minimum security rules for counties and vendors. If they do not follow the rules, the commissioner can limit their access to voter registration or other election systems. Key parts take effect July 1, 2025, with some starting January 1, 2026, and some applying back to January 1, 2024.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/7/2025
Passed Senate
Yes: 32 • No: 15
legislature vote • 3/25/2025
Amendment H-1162
Yes: 31 • No: 65
House vote • 3/25/2025
Passed House
Yes: 65 • 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.
4/22/2025legislatureExplanation of vote.
4/15/2025legislatureMessage from Senate.
4/8/2025SenateImmediate message.
4/7/2025legislaturePassed Senate, yeas 32, nays 15.
4/7/2025SenateAmendment S-3077 filed, lost.
4/7/2025legislaturePlaced on calendar.
4/2/2025legislatureCommittee report, recommending passage.
4/2/2025legislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
4/1/2025legislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 04/01/2025 11:30AM Senate Lounge.
3/27/2025SenateSubcommittee: Rozenboom, Alons, and Winckler.
3/27/2025legislatureRead first time, referred to State Government.
3/26/2025legislatureMessage from House.
3/26/2025HouseImmediate message.
3/25/2025legislaturePassed House, yeas 65, nays 31.
3/25/2025HouseAmendment H-1162, yeas 31, nays 65, lost.
3/25/2025legislatureAmendment H-1152 adopted.
3/25/2025legislatureAmendments H-1152 and H-1162 filed.
3/24/2025legislatureIntroduced, placed on calendar.
3/12/2025legislature
Bill Text
As Introduced
Enrolled
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