Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 487 – County Supervisor and City Official Vacancies, Special Elections (LSB2173SV)
Staff Contact: Anthony Arellano (515.281.6764) anthony.arellano@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 487 relates to special elections to fill vacancies in county boards of supervisors and
elective city offices. The Bill changes the number of signatures required on a petition to fill a
vacancy in an office of county supervisor or elective city office to at least 2.0% of the votes cast
in the previous election.
Background
For county supervisors, petitions are valid if total voter signatures in the county equal to 10.0%
of the votes cast in the county for the office of President of the United States or Governor at the
preceding general election. Iowa Code section 372.13 indicates the percentage of voters
required to sign a petition for the petition to be deemed valid for a special election of city
officials. Under Iowa Code section 372.13, petitions in cities with a population of 50,000 or less
must have the signatures of at least 15.0% of the voters who voted at the preceding regular
election. Petitions in cities with a population of more than 50,000 must have the signatures of at
least 10.0% of the voters who voted at the preceding regular election.
Assumptions
• Counties holding special elections for boards of supervisors as a result of a valid petition
may experience an estimated cost per county between $1,000 and $185,000, depending on
the number of registered voters in the county. However, the frequency and location of these
vacancies and petitions cannot be estimated.
• Cities holding special elections for elective city offices as a result of a valid petition may
experience an estimated cost per city between $750 and $260,000, depending on the
number of registered voters in the city. However, the frequency and location of these
vacancies and petitions cannot be estimated.
Fiscal Impact
Counties that hold special elections for the board of supervisors may make expenditures
between $1,000 and $185,000 for each special election held.
Cities that hold special elections for elective city offices may make expenditures between $750
and $260,000 for each special election held.
Source
Iowa State Association of Counties
/s/ Jennifer Acton
March 27, 2023
Doc ID 1371181
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The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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