The bill amends various sections of the Iowa Code to improve the conduct of elections, focusing on election misconduct investigations, recount procedures, and the handling of nomination papers. A new definition of "election day" is introduced, encompassing any day when in-person voting occurs. It requires law enforcement or state entities investigating election misconduct to notify the state commissioner immediately, with the governor being informed in cases involving the state commissioner. Additionally, the bill establishes new provisions for managing incomplete voter registrations and modifies the recount process for public measures, including specific thresholds for requesting a recount based on vote percentages.

Further changes include the centralization of the nomination process for city offices, designating the county commissioner of elections as the sole recipient of nomination papers and objections, thus removing the previous authority of county commissioners to designate city clerks for this purpose. The bill also updates procedures for contesting elections, requiring statements of intent to be filed with the county commissioner instead of the city clerk. Enhanced security measures for election equipment are introduced, mandating the use of tamper-evident seals. Overall, the bill aims to streamline election processes and bolster the integrity and security of elections in Iowa.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39A.1, 53.10, 48A.37, 52.5, 53.23, 44.8, 44.7, 44.9, 277.3, 279.6, 277.4, 362.4