Criminal Justice (Elections)

This bill amends Iowa election laws to clarify candidate eligibility requirements and strengthen election administration. It requires candidates for state office to affirm in writing that they are aware of disqualification due to a felony conviction (unless rights are restored by the governor or president), with a separate form for federal candidates. The bill also designates the Secretary of State as the state election commissioner, granting authority to establish security protocols for county election offices, conduct security reviews, and limit system access for non-compliance. These changes directly affect state and county election officials, candidates for state offices, and the process for verifying candidate eligibility.

This bill changes how voters who register on election day or cast an in-person absentee ballot cast their votes. It requires these voters to cast a provisional ballot instead of a regular ballot, regardless of whether the polling place has electronic verification. The absentee and special voters precinct board must then verify the voter's eligibility (including felony conviction status and voting rights restoration) using a state database before counting the ballot. This replaces current law, which allowed some voters to receive a regular ballot if electronic verification confirmed their eligibility.