§ Iowa Code § 53.37Definitions

53.37 Definitions.
1. This subchapter is intended to implement the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. §1973ff et seq.
2. The term “armed forces of the United States”, as used in this subchapter, shall mean
the army, navy, marine corps, coast guard, air force, and space force of the United States.
3. For the purpose of absentee voting only, there shall be included in the term “armed
forces of the United States” the following:
Tue Dec 09 22:30:57 2025
Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 53 (53, 1)
§53.37, ABSENT VOTERS
22
a. Spouses and dependents of members of the armed forces while in active service.
b. Members of the merchant marine of the United States and their spouses and
dependents.
c. Civilian employees of the United States in all categories serving outside the territorial
limits of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia and their spouses
and dependents when residing with or accompanying them, whether or not the employee is
subject to the civil service laws and the Classification Act of 1949, and whether or not paid
from funds appropriated by the Congress.
d. Members of religious groups or welfare agencies assisting members of the armed
forces, who are officially attached to and serving with the armed forces, and their spouses
and dependents.
e. Citizens of the United States who do not fall under any of the categories described in
paragraphs “a” through “d”, but who are entitled to register and vote pursuant to section
48A.5, subsection 4 or 5.
4. For the purposes of this subchapter, “qualified voter” means a person who is included
within the term “armed forces of the United States” as described in this section, who would
be qualified to register to vote under section 48A.5, subsection 2, except for residency, and
who is not disqualified from registering to vote and voting under section 48A.6.
Acts, ch 215, §243; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §14; 2017 Acts, ch 120, §7; 2021 Acts, ch 147, §44, 54