§ Iowa Code § 49.104Persons permitted at polling places

49.104 Persons permitted at polling places.
1. The following persons shall be permitted to be present at and in the immediate vicinity
of the polling places, provided they do not solicit votes:
a. Any person who is by law authorized to perform or is charged with the performance of
official duties at the election.
b. Any number of persons, not exceeding three at a time from each political party having
candidates to be voted for at such election, to act as challenging committees, who are
appointed and accredited by the executive or central committee of such political party or
organization.
c. Any number of persons not exceeding three at a time from each of such political parties,
appointed and accredited in the same manner as prescribed in paragraph “b” for challenging
committees, and any number of persons not exceeding three at a time appointed as observers
under paragraph “e”, to witness the counting of ballots.
d. Any peace officer assigned or called upon to keep order or maintain compliance with
the provisions of this chapter, upon request of the commissioner or of the chairperson of the
precinct election board.
e. One observer at a time representing any nonparty political organization, any candidate
nominated by petition pursuant to chapter 45, or any other nonpartisan candidate in a city
or school election, appearing on the ballot of the election in progress. Candidates who send
observers to the polls shall provide each observer with a letter of appointment in the form
prescribed by the state commissioner.
f. Any persons expressing an interest in a ballot issue to be voted upon at an election
except a general or primary election. Any such person shall file a notice of intent to serve as an
observer with the commissioner before election day. If more than three persons file a notice of
intent to serve at the same time with respect to ballot issues at an election, the commissioner
shall appoint from those submitting a notice of intent the three persons who may serve at that
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Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 49 (55, 2)
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METHOD OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS, §49.113
time as observers, and shall provide a schedule to all persons who filed notices of intent. The
appointees, whenever possible, shall include both opponents and proponents of the ballot
issues.
g. Any person authorized by the commissioner, in consultation with the secretary of state,
for the purposes of conducting and attending educational voting programs.
h. Reporters, photographers, and other staff representing the news media. However,
representatives of the news media, while present at or in the immediate vicinity of the polling
places, shall not interfere with the election process in any way.
2. A precinct election official or county commissioner shall not obstruct or interfere with
a person fulfilling that person’s role or performing that person’s duty under subsection 1. A
person who violates this subsection is guilty of election misconduct in the third degree.