HF365 Summary

• County attorneys must investigate and prosecute suspicious activity in voter registration or absentee ballot applications; within one year of receiving evidence, must submit a report to the secretary of state and legislative committees detailing investigation findings and whether prosecution resulted.

• Absentee ballots may only be mailed or delivered by the voter or, with voter permission, by specific authorized persons at least 18 years old: spouse, parent, sibling, child, grandparent, legal guardian, household member, or designated agent.

• Unauthorized persons mailing or delivering absentee ballots are guilty of a felony; authorized persons who tamper with ballots are guilty of a felony; authorized persons who fail to immediately mail or deliver ballots are guilty of a misdemeanor.

• Courts must impose a $1,000 voting fraud penalty assessment on adults convicted of voting-related violations, which cannot be waived but may be reduced to minimum $100 or paid in installments if defendant qualifies for public defender or court finds indigency or undue hardship.

• Complaints alleging violations of campaign activity restrictions (section 211B.13) may be prosecuted directly by county attorneys without requiring prior administrative complaint filing with the elections office.