§ Iowa Code § 48A.27Changes to voter registration records

48A.27 Changes to voter registration records.
1. Any voter registration form received by any voter registration agency, driver’s license
station, including county treasurer’s offices participating in county issuance of driver’s
licenses under chapter 321M, or the commissioner shall be considered as updating the
registrant’s previous registration.
2. a. A person who is registered to vote may request changes in the voter’s registration
record at any time by submitting one of the following, as applicable:
(1) A signed, written notice to the county commissioner in person, by mail, or by electronic
submission.
(2) A completed Iowa or federal mail registration form to the county commissioner.
(3) On election day, a registration form to the precinct election officials at the precinct of
the voter’s current residence.
(4) A change of address form to the office of driver services of the state department of
transportation, or to a county treasurer’s office that is participating in county issuance of
driver’s licenses under chapter 321M.
(5) A change of address notice for voter registration submitted to any voter registration
agency.
b. If a registered voter submits a change of name, telephone number, or address under
this subsection, the commissioner shall not change the political party or nonparty political
organization affiliation in the registered voter’s prior registration unless otherwise indicated
by the registered voter.
3. The commissioner shall make the necessary changes in the registration records without
any action by the registrant when any of the following events occur:
a. Annexation of territory by a city. When an existing city annexes territory, the city clerk
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§48A.27, VOTER REGISTRATION
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shall furnish the commissioner a detailed map of the annexed territory. If a city is divided into
wards for voting purposes, the detailed map shall show the ward designations for the annexed
territory. The commissioner shall change the registration of persons residing in that territory
to reflect the annexation and the city precinct to which each of those persons is assigned. If
the commissioner cannot determine the names and addresses of the persons affected by the
annexation, the commissioner shall send each person who may be involved a letter informing
the person that the person’s registration may be in error, and requesting that each person
provide the commissioner with the information necessary to correct the registration records.
b. Change of official street name or house or building number by a city or county. When
the city or county changes the name of a street or the number of a house or other building
in which a person resides, the city clerk or county board of supervisors shall inform the
commissioner of the change, and the commissioner shall change the registration of each
person affected.
c. Incorporation or discontinuance of a city. When a new city is incorporated or an existing
city is discontinued, the city clerk shall notify the commissioner. The commissioner shall
change the registration of each person affected.
d. Change of rural route designation of the residence of the registered voter. The
commissioner shall request each postmaster in the county to inform the commissioner of
each change in rural route designation and the names of the persons affected, and the
commissioner shall change the registration of each person as appropriate.
4. a. A commissioner, either independently or in cooperation with the state registrar of
voters, and in accordance with rules of the state voter registration commission, may enter
into an agreement with a licensed vendor of the United States postal service participating in
the national change of address program to identify registered voters of the county who may
have moved either within or outside the county.
b. If the information provided by the vendor indicates that a registered voter has moved
to another address within the county, the commissioner shall change the registration records
to show the new residence address, and shall also mail a notice of that action to the new
address. The notice shall be sent by forwardable mail, and shall include a postage prepaid
preaddressed return form by which the registered voter may verify or correct the address
information.
c. If the information provided by the vendor indicates that a registered voter has moved to
an address outside the county, the commissioner shall make the registration record inactive,
and shall mail a notice to the registered voter at the new address.
(1) The notice shall be sent by forwardable mail, and shall include a postage paid
preaddressed return card on which the registered voter may state the registered voter’s
current address.
(2) The notice shall contain a statement in substantially the following form:
Information received from the United States postal service
indicates that you are no longer a resident of, and therefore not
eligible to vote in (name of county) County, Iowa. If this information
is not correct, and you still live in (name of county) County,
please complete and mail the attached postage paid card at least
fifteen days before any election at which you wish to vote. If the
information is correct and you have moved, please contact a local
official in your new area for assistance in registering there. If you
do not mail in the card, you may be required to show identification
before being allowed to vote in (name of county) County. If you do
not return the card, and you do not vote in an election in (name of
county) County, Iowa, on or before (date of second general election
following the date of the notice) your name will be removed from
the list of voters in that county.
d. If the information provided by the vendor indicates the registered voter has moved to
another county within the state, the notice required by paragraph “c” shall include a statement
that registration in the county of the person’s current residence is required.
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VOTER REGISTRATION, §48A.29
e. If a registered voter returns a card sent pursuant to this subsection and confirms that
the registered voter has moved to a new residence outside the county, the commissioner shall
cancel the registration of the voter.
f. If a registered voter returns a card sent pursuant to this subsection and states that the
registered voter’s residence address has not changed for the purpose of voter registration, the
commissioner shall reinstate the record to active status, making any other changes directed
by the registrant in the notice.
5. The commissioner shall keep a record of the names and addresses of the registered
voters to whom notices under this section are sent and the date of the notice. When the return
card from a notice is received by the commissioner, the commissioner shall record the date it
was received and whether the registrant had moved within the county, moved to an address
outside the county, or had not changed residence.
17, 26; 2002 Acts, ch 1134, §23, 24, 115; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §147; 2008 Acts, ch 1115, §80;
§2; 2021 Acts, ch 12, §24, 73