48A.19 - VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCIES.
48A.19 VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCIES.
1. The following state agencies are responsible for voter
registration:
a. All state offices that have direct client contact and
provide applications for public assistance, including but not limited
to offices administering the following programs:
(1) Food stamps.
(2) Medical assistance under chapter 249A.
(3) Iowa family investment program.
(4) Special supplemental food program for women, infants, and
children.
b. (1) All offices that provide state-funded programs
primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities,
including but not limited to all of the following:
(a) Department for the blind.
(b) Division of vocational rehabilitation services of the
department of education.
(c) Deaf services division of the department of human rights or
its successor agency.
(d) Division of persons with disabilities of the department of
human rights or its successor agency.
(2) An agency designated a voter registration agency under this
paragraph which provides services to persons with disabilities in
their homes shall provide voter registration services at the clients'
homes.
c. Other federal and state agencies designated to provide
voter registration services include, but are not limited to, the
United States armed forces recruiting offices.
2. Agencies designated to provide voter registration services
shall provide the following services:
a. Distribution of a voter registration form either on paper
or electronic medium.
b. Assistance to registrants in completing voter registration
forms, unless the registrant refuses assistance.
c. Acceptance of completed voter registration forms for
transmittal as required in section 48A.21.
3. The voter registration agency shall provide voter registration
services with each application for services or assistance and with
each recertification, renewal, or change of address form completed
relating to the agency's services. The secretary of state shall
adopt administrative rules in cooperation with voter registration
agencies to carry out the requirements of this section.
4. a. The voter registration agency shall provide a form to
applicants that includes all of the following:
(1) The question:
"If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you
like to apply to register to vote here today?"
(2) If the agency provides public assistance, the statement:
"Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not
affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this
agency."
(3) (a) Boxes for the applicant to check and choices in
substantially the following form:
$YVB I want to register to vote.
$YVB I do not want to register to vote.
(b) The following statement shall be printed near the choices and
shall be printed in large, readable type:
"If you do not check either box, you will be considered to have
decided not to register to vote at this time."
(4) (a) The statement:
"If you would like help in filling out the voter registration
form, we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help
is yours. You may fill out the application form in private."
(b) However, in those voter registration agencies where
electronic forms are used, the following statement shall be used:
"If you want to fill out the form in private, a separate paper
form for voter registration will be provided."
(5) (a) The statement:
"If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to
register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in
deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or
your right to choose your own political party or other political
preference, you may file a complaint with the state voter
registration commission."
(b) The name, address, and telephone number of the voter
registration commission shall complete the statement.
b. The voter registration agency may distribute the voter
registration form either on paper or by electronic medium.
5. The voter registration agency shall provide each applicant who
chooses to register to vote the same degree of assistance in
completing the registration form as is provided by the office for the
completion of its own forms unless the applicant refuses such
assistance.
6. Completed voter registration forms shall be transmitted as
provided in section 48A.21. Section History: Recent Form
94 Acts, ch 1169, §20; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201
Referred to in § 48A.2, 48A.11