Bill > HF595

This bill modifies Iowa's election laws to restrict voting in primary elections and party caucuses by requiring voters to have been registered members of a political party for at least 120 days before the election or caucus. Specifically, the bill changes existing statutes to mandate that voters can only vote in a party's primary or caucus if they have been registered with that party for at least four months prior to the event. The legislation removes previous provisions that allowed voters to change their party affiliation on the day of a primary election or through an absentee ballot request form. When voting in a primary, voters will now need to declare that they have been a member of the party for at least 120 days, effectively creating a longer waiting period for voters who want to switch party affiliations and participate in a primary election. The bill aims to create more stability in party membership and potentially reduce last-minute party switching that could impact primary election outcomes. These changes will apply to both primary elections and precinct caucuses, ensuring consistent party membership requirements across different types of political gatherings.

Government Affairs

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF595