Bills › 91st General Assembly

HF 2165Died when the session ended · January 26, 2026

Relating to the casting of ballots by absent voters

Sponsored by Rep. Eddie Andrews (R), Rep. Dr. Steven P. Bradley (R), Rep. Zach Dieken (R), Rep. Samantha Fett (R), Rep. Jason Gearhart (R), Rep. Thomas Gerhold (R), Rep. Cindy Golding (R), Rep. Helena Hayes (R), Rep. Wendy Larson (R), Rep. Mark I. Thompson (R), Rep. Charley Thomson (R), Rep. Craig Steven Williams (R)

Topics:Elections & voting

Same legislation: SF 2077

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 21, 2026
  2. Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
  3. Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
  4. Next: Passes the House
  5. Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. 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 People voting by mail would have to use new types of envelopes and include a specific verification number on their ballot packaging. Election officials will reject any ballot if that number is missing or does not match what they have on file. Most absentee ballots must now be turned in by 5:00 p.m. the day before an election instead of when the polls close on election day.1

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to the casting of ballots by absent voters. The bill requires an absentee ballot that is mailed to a voter to be enclosed in an unsealed affidavit envelope and with or in an unsealed return envelope, which shall then be enclosed in the delivery envelope, which shall not include a return address. If the ballot cannot be folded so that all the votes on the ballot will be hidden, the bill requires the commissioner to also send a secrecy envelope. The bill requires a registered voter to subscribe to an affidavit on an affidavit envelope by signing the envelope and writing the voter’s voter verification number. The bill adds a requirement that an affidavit envelope be considered to contain a defect if the voter verification number on the envelope does not match the voter verification number on file for the voter. The bill strikes certain requirements regarding what materials a commissioner shall include with an absentee ballot and instead requires a commissioner to put the same serial number on the affidavit, return, and delivery envelopes. The bill requires all mailed absentee ballots to include an affidavit envelope. The bill also requires the absentee and special voters precinct board to reject an absentee ballot if the affidavit envelope does not include the voter’s voter verification number. The bill changes the timeline for the return of absentee ballots. on the day before election day. Under current law, absentee ballots must be delivered to the office of the county commissioner of elections not later than the time polls close on election day. armed forces.

Full bill text2

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§53.1B

Amends§53.10§53.12§53.16§53.17§53.17A§53.18§53.21§53.22§53.23§53.25§53.30§53.32§53.44§53.8§9E.6

How the Code works3

Lobbying

2 for · 6 against · 1 undecided · Who →

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