Section 48A.19. Voter registration agencies.

  1.  The following state agencies are responsible for voter registration:

  a.  All state offices that have direct client contact and provide applications for public assistance, including but not limited to offices administering the following programs:

  (1)  Food stamps.

  (2)  Medical assistance under chapter 249A.

  (3)  Iowa family investment program.

  (4)  Special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children.

  b.  (1)  All offices that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities, including but not limited to all of the following:

  (a)  Department for the blind.

  (b)  Division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of education.

  (c)  Office of deaf services of the department of human rights or its successor agency.

  (d)  Office of persons with disabilities of the department of human rights or its successor agency.

  (2)  An agency designated a voter registration agency under this paragraph which provides services to persons with disabilities in their homes shall provide voter registration services at the clients’ homes.

  c.  Other federal and state agencies designated to provide voter registration services include, but are not limited to, the United States armed forces recruiting offices.

  2.  Agencies designated to provide voter registration services shall provide the following services:

  a.  Distribution of a voter registration form either on paper or electronic medium.

  b.  Assistance to registrants in completing voter registration forms, unless the registrant refuses assistance.

  c.  Acceptance of completed voter registration forms for transmittal as required in section 48A.21.

  3.  The voter registration agency shall provide voter registration services with each application for services or assistance and with each recertification, renewal, or change of address form completed relating to the agency’s services. The secretary of state shall adopt administrative rules in cooperation with voter registration agencies to carry out the requirements of this section.

  4.  a.  The voter registration agency shall provide a form to applicants that includes all of the following:

  (1)  The question:

  If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?

  (2)  If the agency provides public assistance, the statement:

  Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.

  (3)  (a)  Boxes for the applicant to check and choices in substantially the following form:

☐  I want to register to vote.

☐  I do not want to register to vote.

  (b)  The following statement shall be printed near the choices and shall be printed in large, readable type:

  If you do not check either box, you will be considered to have decided not to register to vote at this time.

  (4)  (a)  The statement:

  If you would like help in filling out the voter registration form, we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private.

  (b)  However, in those voter registration agencies where electronic forms are used, the following statement shall be used:

  If you want to fill out the form in private, a separate paper form for voter registration will be provided.

  (5)  (a)  The statement:

  If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint with the state voter registration commission.

  (b)  The name, address, and telephone number of the voter registration commission shall complete the statement.

  b.  The voter registration agency may distribute the voter registration form either on paper or by electronic medium.

  5.  The voter registration agency shall provide each applicant who chooses to register to vote the same degree of assistance in completing the registration form as is provided by the office for the completion of its own forms unless the applicant refuses such assistance.

  6.  Completed voter registration forms shall be transmitted as provided in section 48A.21.

94 Acts, ch 1169, §20

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2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201