§ Iowa Code § 48A.19Voter 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) The supplemental nutrition assistance program.
(2) The medical assistance program under chapter 249A.
(3) The Iowa family investment program.
(4) The special supplemental nutrition 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 workforce
development.
(c) Office of deaf services of the department of health and human services or its successor
agency.
(d) Office of persons with disabilities of the department of health and human services or
its successor agency.
(2) An agency designated a voter registration agency under this paragraph which provides
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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:
☐
☐
I want to register to vote.
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
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§48A.19, VOTER REGISTRATION
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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.