This bill amends various sections of the Iowa Code related to the administration of elections, primarily focusing on the investigation of election misconduct, the responsibilities of election officials, and the use of electronic voting systems. It transfers the responsibility for investigating allegations of election misconduct from the attorney general to the county sheriff or other law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction. Upon completing an investigation, these agencies must report their findings to both the attorney general and the state commissioner of elections, while ensuring that any information related to the investigation remains confidential. Additionally, the bill clarifies that candidates for federal office are not required to affirm their disqualification status due to felony convictions, and it mandates the creation of separate affidavits for these candidates.

The bill also introduces provisions for the use of electronic election registers and poll books, allowing county commissioners to utilize certified electronic systems instead of paper ones. It establishes that the state commissioner of elections can issue directives to clarify election laws without going through the rulemaking process and broadens the scope of records that can be examined to ensure compliance with election laws. Furthermore, it allows the state commissioner to set minimum security protocols for election vendors and limits access to election infrastructure if these protocols are not followed. The bill also enables the state commissioner to call for recounts and presumes the validity of certificates of nomination for presidential candidates, restricting objections to their legal sufficiency.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39A.7, 22.7, 43.67, 44.3, 45.3, 47.1, 49.25, 49.26, 50.24, 50.50, 52.1, 54.5