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IA SF550
IA SF550A bill for an act relating to voter registration, including voter registration file maintenance, applications for voter registration, and verification of voter eligibility.(Formerly SSB 1088.)
summary
Introduced
03/06/2025
03/06/2025
In Committee
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to voter registration. The bill specifies that the state registrar of voters may contract with federal and state agencies and private entities for voter registration verification purposes and allows the state registrar to adopt rules regarding the use of federal and state sources of information for voter registration file maintenance. The bill requires the department of transportation (DOT) to share with the state registrar of voters a list of each person who has submitted documentation indicating that the person is not a citizen of the United States and requires the state registrar of voters to compare the list of registered voters with the noncitizen identification information maintained by the DOT. The bill prohibits the DOT and other voter registration agencies from treating applications for driver’s licenses, nonoperator’s identification cards, services, or assistance as applications for voter registration if the applicant submits documentation demonstrating that the applicant is not a citizen of the United States. The bill requires a voter registration to be marked as “unconfirmed” if a registrant marks on the voter registration form that the registrant is a noncitizen and also signs the portion of the form affirming that the registrant is a citizen of the United States or if the state registrar of voters or county commissioner of elections receives reliable information that the registered voter is not a citizen of the United States. The bill requires a voter registration to be changed from unconfirmed to active if the registered voter provides evidence that the registered voter is qualified to vote. The bill adds a statement regarding citizenship status to the declaration of eligibility signed by each voter prior to receiving a ballot. The bill also requires a voter registration to be canceled if the registered voter submits documentation that indicates that the registered voter is not a citizen of the United States or reports to a state or federal agency that the registered voter is not a citizen of the United States. The bill allows a precinct election official to question a person about the person’s citizenship status if the right of the person to vote is challenged at the time the person is offering to vote. The bill requires the special precinct election board to reject provisional ballots that have not been cured by the statutory deadline.
AI Summary
This bill strengthens voter registration eligibility verification procedures in Iowa, focusing primarily on citizenship status checks. The bill requires the state registrar of voters to maintain a centralized, computerized voter registration system that coordinates with other state agency databases to verify voter information. Key changes include mandating that driver's license and identification card applications will not serve as voter registration applications for individuals who provide documentation showing they are not U.S. citizens, creating an "unconfirmed" status for voter records where registrants self-report as non-citizens, and adding citizenship status as a specific grounds for voter registration cancellation. The bill also modifies voter declaration forms to explicitly require voters to affirm U.S. citizenship, and allows the state to use various federal and state agency information sources to verify voter eligibility. Additionally, the legislation provides mechanisms for tracking and managing voter records with different status designations (active, inactive, incomplete, pending, unconfirmed, or canceled), and ensures that provisional ballots not cured by specified deadlines will be rejected. These changes aim to enhance the accuracy and integrity of Iowa's voter registration system by more rigorously screening non-citizen voter registrations.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
State Government (Senate)
Last Action
Referred to State Government. S.J. 1058. (on 06/16/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF550 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF550.html |
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