Relating to the automatic mailing of ballots, and including applicability provisions

Sponsored by Rep. Jerome Amos Jr. (D), Rep. Ken Croken (D), Rep. Rob Johnson (D), Rep. Aime Wichtendahl (D), Rep. Elizabeth Wilson (D)

Topics:Elections & voting Cities & counties

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Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 30, 2025
Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
Next: Passes the House
Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the Senate
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Instead of waiting for people to ask for them, election officials would automatically mail absentee ballots to every registered voter before an election. The new rules also require officials to provide instructions so voters can track their ballots online and confirm when they have been received. These changes would apply to all elections held starting in July 2025.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the mailing of absentee ballots. The bill requires county commissioners of elections to automatically mail absentee ballots to all registered voters days before an election and to electronically confirm the receipt of returned absentee ballots. Current law requires registered voters to submit an application prior to receiving an absentee ballot, and provides that commissioners mail absentee ballots not earlier than days before the election. The special precinct election board must convene starting on November to begin counting ballots. The bill requires voter registration cards and absentee ballots to include instructions on how absentee ballots may be tracked by the voter.3.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill. The bill applies to all elections taking place on or after July 1, 2025.

Full bill text²

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§22.7 §48A.10A §53.1 §53.10 §53.12 §53.18 §53.19 §53.21 §53.22 §53.23 §53.39 §53.45 §53.49 §53.7 §53.8

Repeals§53.2 §53.3

How the Code works³

Lobbying

3 for · 2 against · 0 undecided · Who →

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Tried before

HF 2256Cleared committee88th GA HF 2385Cleared committee90th GA

91st General Assembly

HF 188Cleared committee

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.

HF 2385 Relating to the automatic mailing of ballots, and including applicability provisions
90th General Assembly · In committee · same title
Cleared committee
HF 2256 Relating to the automatic mailing of ballots and including applicability provisions
88th General Assembly · In committee · very similar
Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.