reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
IA Code § 53.21 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.21 - Replacement of lost or spoiled absentee ballots.

53.21 Replacement of lost or spoiled absentee ballots.   1. A voter who has requested an absentee ballot may obtain a replacement ballot if the voter declares that the original ballot was lost or did not arrive. The commissioner upon receipt of a written or oral request for a replacement ballot shall provide a duplicate ballot. The same serial number that was assigned to the records of the original absentee ballot request shall be used on the envelopes and records of the replacement ballot.   2. a. The commissioner shall include with the replacement ballot two copies of a statement in substantially the following form:   The absentee ballot which I requested on ................................ (date) has been lost or was never received. If I find this absentee ballot I will return it, unvoted, to the commissioner.  ....................................  (Signature of voter)  ....................................  (Date)   b. The voter shall enclose one copy of the above statement in the return envelope along with the affidavit envelope, if the voter was mailed a separate affidavit envelope, and shall retain a copy for the voter’s records.   3. a. A voter who spoils an absentee ballot may return it to the commissioner. The outside of the return envelope shall be marked “SPOILED BALLOT”. The commissioner shall replace the ballot in the manner provided in this section for lost ballots.   b. An absentee ballot returned to the commissioner without a designation that the ballot was spoiled shall not be replaced.  89 Acts, ch 136, §53; 93 Acts, ch 143, §33; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §231; 2009 Acts, ch 57, §67; 2014 Acts, ch 1101, §21, 32  Referred to in §53.49
IA Code § 53.24 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.24 - Counties using voting machines.

53.24 Counties using voting machines. Repealed by  2009 Acts, ch 57, §96  .
IA Code § 53.25 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.25 - Rejecting ballot.

53.25 Rejecting ballot.   1. a. If the absentee voter’s affidavit lacks the voter’s signature, if the applicant is not a duly registered voter on election day in the precinct where the absentee ballot was cast, if the envelope marked with the affidavit contains more than one ballot of any one kind, or if the voter has voted in person, such vote shall be rejected by the absentee and special voters precinct board. If the affidavit envelope or return envelope marked with the affidavit is open, or has been opened and resealed, or if the ballot is not enclosed in such envelope, and an affidavit envelope or return envelope marked with the affidavit with the same serial number and marked “Replacement ballot” is not attached as provided in section 53.18, the ballot shall be rejected by the absentee and special voters precinct board.   b. If a voter casts a provisional ballot pursuant to section 49.78, subsection 7, and the voter has failed to establish the voter’s identity at the commissioner’s office, the provisional ballot shall be rejected by the absentee and special voters precinct board.   2. If the absentee or provisional ballot is rejected prior to the opening of the affidavit envelope or return envelope marked with the affidavit, the voter casting the ballot shall be notified by a precinct election official by the time the canvass is completed of the reason for the rejection on a form prescribed by the state commissioner of elections.  [SS15, §1137-j; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §951; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.25]  94 Acts, ch 1169, §64; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §234; 2009 Acts, ch 57, §69; 2014 Acts, ch 1101, §24, 32; 2017 Acts, ch 110, §33, 35, 36  Referred to in §50.22, 53.49  2017 amendment takes effect July 1, 2017, and applies to elections held on or after that date;  2017 Acts, ch 110, §35, 36  ;  2017 Acts, ch 170, §26
IA Code § 53.26 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.26 - Rejected ballots — how handled.

53.26 Rejected ballots — how handled.   1. Every ballot not counted shall be endorsed on the back with the following:   Rejected because (giving reason therefor).   2. All rejected ballots shall be enclosed and securely sealed in an envelope on which the precinct election officials shall endorse “Defective ballots”, with a statement signed by the precinct election officials regarding the precinct in which and the date of the election at which they were cast. The envelope shall be returned to the same officer and in the same manner as by law provided for the return and preservation of official ballots voted at such election.  [SS15, §1137-j; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §952; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.26]  2018 Acts, ch 1041, §13; 2019 Acts, ch 59, §25  Referred to in §53.18, 53.49  Return of rejected ballots, §50.5
IA Code § 53.27 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.27 - Rejection of ballot — return of envelope.

53.27 Rejection of ballot — return of envelope.   If the ballot is rejected, the envelope marked with the affidavit, with the voter’s endorsement thereon, shall be returned with the rejected ballot in the envelope endorsed “Defective ballots”.  [C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §953; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.27]  2007 Acts, ch 215, §235; 2014 Acts, ch 1101, §25, 32  Referred to in §53.18, 53.49
IA Code § 53.30 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.30 - Ballots, ballot envelopes, and other information preserved.

53.30 Ballots, ballot envelopes, and other information preserved.   At the conclusion of each meeting of the absentee and special voters precinct board, the board shall securely seal all ballots counted by them in the manner prescribed in section 50.12. The ballot envelopes, including the affidavit envelope if an affidavit envelope was provided, the return envelope, and secrecy envelope bearing the signatures of precinct election officials, as required by section 53.23, shall be preserved. All applications for absentee ballots, ballots rejected without being opened, absentee ballot logs, and any other documents pertaining to the absentee ballot process shall be preserved until such time as the documents may be destroyed pursuant to section 50.19.  [C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §956; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.30]  95 Acts, ch 67, §53; 2002 Acts, ch 1134, §69, 115; 2009 Acts, ch 57, §70; 2014 Acts, ch 1101, §26, 32  Referred to in §53.49
IA Code § 53.31 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.31 - Challenges.

53.31 Challenges.   1. Any person qualified to vote at the election in progress may challenge the qualifications of a person casting an absentee ballot by submitting a written challenge to the commissioner no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Friday before the election. It is the duty of the special precinct officials to challenge the absentee ballot of any person whom the official knows or suspects is not duly qualified. Challenges by members of the special precinct election board or observers present pursuant to section 53.23 may be made at any time before the close of the polls on election day. The challenge shall state the reasons for which the challenge is being submitted and shall be signed by the challenger. When a challenge is received the absentee ballot shall be set aside for consideration by the special precinct election board when it meets as required by section 50.22.   2. The commissioner shall immediately send a written notice to the elector whose qualifications have been challenged. The notice shall be sent to the address at which the challenged elector is registered to vote. If the ballot was mailed to the challenged elector, the notice shall also be sent to the address to which the ballot was mailed if it is different from the elector’s registration address. The notice shall advise the elector of the reason for the challenge, the date and time that the special precinct election board will reconvene to determine challenges, and that the elector has the right to submit written evidence of the elector’s qualifications. The notice shall include the telephone number of the commissioner’s office. If the commissioner has access to a facsimile machine, the notice shall include the telephone number of the facsimile machine. As far as possible, other procedures for considering provisional ballots shall be followed.  [SS15, §1137-k; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §957; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.31]  93 Acts, ch 143, §35; 2005 Acts, ch 19, §25; 2007 Acts, ch 59, §30, 38  Referred to in §9E.6, 48A.8, 53.49  Challenges, §49.79
IA Code § 53.32 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.32 - Ballot of deceased voter.

53.32 Ballot of deceased voter.   When it shall be made to appear by due proof to the precinct election officials that any elector, who has so marked and forwarded a ballot, has died before the envelope marked with the affidavit is opened, then the ballot of such deceased voter shall be endorsed, “Rejected because voter is dead”, and be returned to the commissioner. The casting of the ballot of a deceased voter shall not invalidate the election.  [SS15, §1137-l; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §958; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.32]  2007 Acts, ch 215, §236; 2014 Acts, ch 1101, §27, 32  Referred to in §53.49
IA Code § 53.34 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.34 - False affidavit.

53.34 False affidavit.   Any person who shall willfully swear falsely to any of such affidavits shall be guilty of a fraudulent practice.  [SS15, §1137-n; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §960; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.34]  Referred to in §53.49
IA Code § 53.35 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.35 - Refusal to return ballot.

53.35 Refusal to return ballot. Repealed by  2007 Acts, ch 59, §37, 38  .
IA Code § 53.35A (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.35A - Failure to return ballot.

53.35A Failure to return ballot.   It is unlawful for any person designated by the commissioner, or by the elector casting the absentee ballot, to deliver the sealed envelope containing the absentee ballot, to willfully fail to return the ballot to the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee.  93 Acts, ch 143, §36; 2002 Acts, ch 1071, §13  Referred to in §39A.4
IA Code § 53.36 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.36 - Offenses by officers.

53.36 Offenses by officers. Repealed by  2002 Acts, ch 1071, §15  . See §39A.2 – 39A.5.
IA Code § 53.37 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.37 - Definitions.

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, and air 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:   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.  [C54, 58, 62, 66, §53.37; C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, §53.37, 53.49; C81, §53.37]  94 Acts, ch 1180, §25; 95 Acts, ch 67, §8; 2001 Acts, ch 56, §4; 2007 Acts, ch 59, §31, 38; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §243; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §14; 2017 Acts, ch 120, §7  Referred to in §48A.5, 48A.5A, 48A.25A, 53.49, 53.53
IA Code § 53.37A (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.37A - State commissioner duties.

53.37A State commissioner duties.   The state commissioner of elections shall provide information regarding voter registration procedures and absentee ballot procedures to be used by members of the armed forces of the United States. The state commissioner shall accept valid voter registration applications and absentee ballot applications and shall forward the applications to the appropriate county commissioner of elections in a timely manner.  2004 Acts, ch 1083, §34, 37  Referred to in §48A.5
IA Code § 53.38 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.38 - What constitutes registration.

53.38 What constitutes registration.   Whenever a ballot is requested pursuant to section 53.39 or 53.45 on behalf of a voter in the armed forces of the United States, the affidavit upon the envelope marked with the affidavit of such voter, if the voter is found to be an eligible elector of the county to which the ballot is submitted, shall constitute a sufficient registration under chapter 48A. A completed federal postcard registration and federal absentee ballot request form submitted by such eligible elector shall also constitute a sufficient registration under chapter 48A. The commissioner shall place the voter’s name on the registration record as a registered voter if it does not already appear there. The identification requirements of section 48A.8 and the verification requirements of section 48A.25A do not apply to persons who register to vote under this subchapter.  [C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.38]  88 Acts, ch 1119, §29; 94 Acts, ch 1169, §55; 2002 Acts, ch 1134, §70, 115; 2007 Acts, ch 59, §32, 38; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §237; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143; 2014 Acts, ch 1101, §28, 32  Referred to in §48A.5
IA Code § 53.39 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.39 - Request for ballot — when available.

53.39 Request for ballot — when available.   1. Section 53.2 does not apply in the case of a qualified voter of the state of Iowa serving in the armed forces of the United States. In any such case an application for ballot as provided for in that section is not required and an absent voter’s ballot shall be sent or made available to any such qualified voter upon a request as provided in this subchapter.   2. All official ballots to be voted by qualified absent voters in the armed forces of the United States at the primary election and the general election shall be printed prior to forty-five days before the respective elections and shall be available for transmittal to such qualified voters in the armed forces of the United States at least forty-five days before the respective elections. The provisions of this chapter apply to absent voting by qualified voters in the armed forces of the United States except as modified by the provisions of this subchapter.  [C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.39]  89 Acts, ch 136, §54; 94 Acts, ch 1169, §64; 94 Acts, ch 1180, §26; 95 Acts, ch 67, §9; 2010 Acts, ch 1033, §30, 56; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143  Referred to in §48A.5, 53.38
IA Code § 53.41 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.41 - Records by commissioner — excess requests or ballots.

53.41 Records by commissioner — excess requests or ballots.   1. The commissioner of each county shall establish and maintain a record of all requests for ballots which are made, and of all ballots transmitted, and the manner of transmittal, from and received in the commissioner’s office under the provisions of this subchapter.   2. If more than one request for absent voter’s ballot for a particular election is made to the commissioner before the ballots are ready to mail by or on behalf of a voter in the armed forces of the United States, the last request received shall be honored, except that if one of the requests is made by the voter, the request of the voter shall be honored in preference to a request made on the voter’s behalf by another.   3. Not more than one ballot shall be transmitted by the commissioner to any voter for a particular election unless after the ballot has been mailed the voter reports a change in the address to which the ballot should be sent. A ballot shall be mailed using a serial number that indicates that this is a replacement sent to an updated address. The original ballot shall be counted only if the replacement ballot does not arrive. If the commissioner receives more than one absent voter’s ballot, provided for by this subchapter, from or purporting to be from any one voter for a particular election, all of the ballots so received from or purporting to be from such voter are void, and the commissioner shall not deliver any of the ballots to the precinct election officials, but shall retain them in the commissioner’s office, and preserve them for the period and under the conditions provided for in sections 50.12, 50.13, 50.15, and 50.19.  [C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.41]  89 Acts, ch 136, §56; 2007 Acts, ch 59, §33, 38; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §9; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143  Referred to in §48A.5
IA Code § 53.42 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.42 - Voting in person in commissioner’s office.

53.42 Voting in person in commissioner’s office.   Notwithstanding the provision as to time found in section 53.10, any qualified voter in the armed forces of the United States may personally appear in the office of the commissioner of the county of the voter’s residence and there vote an absent voter’s ballot at any time not earlier than forty days before the primary or general election, as the case may be.  [C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.42]  Referred to in §48A.5
IA Code § 53.43 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.43 - Identification on envelope.

53.43 Identification on envelope.   The envelopes used in connection with voting by absent voter’s ballot by voters who are members of the armed forces of the United States, shall have stamped or printed on them the words “Armed Forces or Overseas Ballot” and a designation of the election at which the ballot is to be cast.  [C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.43]  86 Acts, ch 1224, §31, 40; 94 Acts, ch 1180, §28  Referred to in §48A.5
IA Code § 53.44 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.44 - Affidavit to be signed and returned.

53.44 Affidavit to be signed and returned.   1. The affidavit on the envelope marked with the affidavit used in connection with voting by absentee ballot under this subchapter by members of the armed forces of the United States need not be notarized or witnessed, but the affidavit on such envelope shall be completed and signed by the voter.   2. Absentee ballots issued under this subchapter shall be returned in the same manner and within the same time limits specified in section 53.17.  [C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §53.44]  84 Acts, ch 1291, §20; 89 Acts, ch 136, §57; 2007 Acts, ch 215, §239; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143; 2014 Acts, ch 1101, §30, 32  Referred to in §48A.5
IA Code § 53.45 (2021)
2021 Iowa Code|Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES|Chapter 53 - ABSENT VOTERS|Section 53.45 - Special absentee ballot.

53.45 Special absentee ballot.   1. a. As provided in this section, the commissioner shall provide special absentee ballots to be used for general elections. A special absentee ballot shall only be provided to an eligible elector who completes an application stating both of the following to the best of the eligible elector’s belief:   (1) The eligible elector will be residing or stationed or working outside the continental United States.   (2) The eligible elector will be unable to vote and return a regular absentee ballot by normal mail delivery within the period provided for regular absentee ballots.   b. The application for a special absentee ballot shall not be filed earlier than one hundred twenty days prior to the general election. The special absentee ballot shall list the offices and measures, if known, scheduled to appear on the general election ballot. The eligible elector may use the special absentee ballot to write in the name of any eligible candidate for each office and may vote on any measure.   2. With any special absentee ballot issued under this section, the commissioner shall include a listing of any candidates who have filed before the time of the application for offices that will appear on the ballot at that general election and a list of any measures that have been referred to the ballot before the time of the application.   3. Write-in votes on special absentee ballots shall be counted in the same manner provided by law for the counting of other write-in votes. The commissioner shall process and canvass the special absentee ballots provided under this section in the same manner as other absentee ballots.   4. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 53.49, an eligible elector who requests a special absentee ballot under this section may also make application for an absentee ballot under section 53.2 or an armed forces absentee ballot under section 53.40. If the regular absentee or armed forces absentee ballot is properly voted and returned, the special absentee ballot is void and the commissioner shall reject it in whole when special absentee ballots are canvassed.  87 Acts, ch 221, §29; 88 Acts, ch 1119, §30; 2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §16; 2016 Acts, ch 1003, §1  Referred to in §48A.5, 53.38