This bill amends Section 48A.7A of the Iowa Code to require individuals who register to vote on election day or while casting an in-person absentee ballot to cast a provisional ballot. The absentee and special voters precinct board will then verify the voter's eligibility against a maintained database. If the board determines that the voter has not been convicted of a felony or has had their voting rights restored, the provisional ballot will be counted. Conversely, if the database indicates that the voter has been convicted of a felony and their voting rights have not been restored, the provisional ballot will be rejected.

The bill removes the previous provision that allowed individuals registering at polling places with access to electronic poll books to cast a regular ballot if their eligibility was verified. Instead, all individuals registering on election day or during in-person absentee voting will now be required to cast provisional ballots, regardless of the availability of electronic verification. This change aims to standardize the voting process for those registering on election day and ensure that all provisional ballots are subject to the same verification process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48A.7A