IA HF169

Removes the requirement that Iowa counties must use optical scan voting systems for elections held on or after July 1, 2025, making such systems optional rather than mandatory

Allows county commissioners to decide whether ballots will be counted by automatic tabulating equipment or by precinct election officials for elections in cities with populations of 3,500 or less and for school district elections

Permits the use of paper ballots counted by precinct officials when voting turnout is expected to be light enough that manual counting would be less expensive than using automatic tabulating equipment

Establishes a petition process allowing 100 or more eligible electors to require the use of automatic tabulating equipment, with petitions due by 5:00 p.m. on the 42nd day before an election

Changes federal Help America Vote Act compliance provisions for disabled voters from mandatory to permissive regarding the use of electronic ballot marking devices compatible with optical scan systems