The bill amends various sections of the Iowa Code concerning election recount procedures, including the timing for canvassing election returns, which is changed from "Monday or Tuesday" to "Tuesday" following elections. It also revises the structure of recount boards based on county population, allowing for different compositions depending on the size of the county. For counties with fewer than 15,000 residents, the board will consist of one designee from the candidate requesting the recount, one from the apparent winning candidate, and a precinct election official. In larger counties, the board will include additional designees and precinct officials. The bill empowers the state commissioner of elections to initiate recounts and mandates that recount boards convene by 9:00 a.m. on the sixth day after the election canvass.

Furthermore, the bill establishes deadlines for filing recount reports, requiring submissions within specific timeframes depending on the type of election, and shortens the filing period for public measures to two days after the canvass. It transitions from administrative recounts to administrative audits under certain conditions and introduces penalties for candidates who fail to request a hand recount when necessary. Additionally, the bill shifts the responsibility for contesting elections for presidential electors and state officers from the secretary of state to the clerk of the supreme court, with contingencies for the clerk's unavailability. The bill aims to streamline the recount process and enhance the integrity of election results, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 43.49, 43.56, 47.1, 50.12, 50.48, 53.20, 47.2, 376.9, 50.30, 50.49, 50.50, 43.2, 60.2, 61.2, 260C.15