This bill amends various sections of the Iowa Code to establish new regulations regarding the conduct of elections. It designates Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year and makes it a legal public holiday, including a paid holiday for state employees. Additionally, the bill mandates that all ballots must include a unique code or identifier to differentiate genuine ballots from counterfeit ones, stating that any ballot lacking this identifier will not be counted. It also revises the criteria for absentee voting, allowing it only under specific circumstances related to employment, illness, age, physical disability, or military service.

Furthermore, the bill imposes strict limitations on campaign contributions, prohibiting candidates or their committees from accepting more than $1 from individuals not residing in Iowa. It acknowledges the First Amendment rights of non-residents while emphasizing the importance of local influence in Iowa elections. The bill sets a contribution limit of $100 per election campaign cycle for candidates, with violations classified as serious misdemeanors, punishable by fines and potential confinement. Civil remedies for campaign finance violations are also outlined, providing a range of penalties for non-compliance.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 1C.1, 1C.2, 49.57, 53.1