Bills › 90th General Assembly
Relating to special elections to fill vacancies in county boards of supervisors and city elective offices, and including applicability provisions
Topics:Elections & votingCities & counties
Same legislation: SF 487
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 20, 2023
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 22, 2023
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 2, 2023
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 487
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 487 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 487 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary If a vacancy opens up in a city office with at least one year left in the term, a special election must be held to fill it. County supervisors would also face a mandatory special election if their term has at least six months remaining when they leave office. Currently, these elections only happen if people sign a petition or if certain conditions are met.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to special elections to fill vacancies in county boards of supervisors and elective city offices. The bill requires that a special election be called to fill a vacancy in the office of county supervisor if at least six months remain in the term of office when the vacancy occurs. The bill also requires that a special election be called to fill a vacancy in an elected city office if at least one year remains in the term of office when the vacancy occurs. Under current law, a vacancy in the office of county supervisor or an elected city office must be filled by a special election only upon receipt of a petition for a special election to fill the vacancy, or if the board of supervisors declares that a vacancy exists in the office of county supervisor due to the physical or mental status of a supervisor if at least two and one-half years remain in the term. The bill applies to vacancies in county boards of supervisors and city elective offices arising on or after the effective date of the bill.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 22, 2023. On February 22, 2023 it recommended passage. [].
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Fiscal note
AI summary This bill changes the number of signatures required on a petition to hold a special election for vacancies in city offices and county boards of supervisors. Counties may spend between $1,000 and $185,000 for each special election held, while cities may spend between $750 and $260,000 for each special election held. The frequency and location of these vacancies and petitions cannot be estimated.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate File 487 relates to special elections to fill vacancies in county boards of supervisors and elective city offices. The Bill changes the number of signatures required on a petition to fill a vacancy in an office of county supervisor or elective city office to at least 2.0% of the votes cast in the previous election.
Background
For county supervisors, petitions are valid if total voter signatures in the county equal to 10.0% of the votes cast in the county for the office of President of the United States or Governor at the preceding general election. Iowa Code section 372.13 indicates the percentage of voters required to sign a petition for the petition to be deemed valid for a special election of city officials. Under Iowa Code section 372.13, petitions in cities with a population of 50,000 or less must have the signatures of at least 15.0% of the voters who voted at the preceding regular election. Petitions in cities with a population of more than 50,000 must have the signatures of at least 10.0% of the voters who voted at the preceding regular election.
Assumptions
- Counties holding special elections for boards of supervisors as a result of a valid petition may experience an estimated cost per county between $1,000 and $185,000, depending on the number of registered voters in the county. However, the frequency and location of these vacancies and petitions cannot be estimated.
- Cities holding special elections for elective city offices as a result of a valid petition may experience an estimated cost per city between $750 and $260,000, depending on the number of registered voters in the city. However, the frequency and location of these vacancies and petitions cannot be estimated.
Fiscal Impact
Counties that hold special elections for the board of supervisors may make expenditures between $1,000 and $185,000 for each special election held.
Cities that hold special elections for elective city offices may make expenditures between $750 and $260,000 for each special election held.
Source
- Iowa State Association of Counties
- County Supervisor and City Official Vacancies, Special Elections · March 27, 2023 · $260,000
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
0 for · 0 against · 10 undecided · Who →
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90th General Assembly