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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a voter registration agency?

Answer: A state agency responsible for voter registration activities. 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. 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:

1. Department for the Blind.
2. Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Education.
3. Deaf Services Division of the Department of Human Rights or its successor agency.
4. Division of Persons with Disabilities of the Department of Human Rights or its successor agency.

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. What are the federally acceptable forms of identification under HAVA?

 Answer: The following are acceptable:

1. a current and valid photo identification card,
2. a current utility bill;
3. bank statement; or
4. a pay check or other government check

3. Who may challenge a voter’s qualifications?

Answer: The qualifications of a voter may be challenged by any precinct election official or registered voter.

4. What is HAVA?

Answer: HAVA is short for Help America Vote Act.

5. How is a first-time voter defined for our purposes?

Answer: A first-time voter is one who registered by mail since January 1, 2003 and has not voted previously in a federal election.

6. If a voter destroys or damages his absentee or regular ballot, he cannot vote as the taxpayers should not have to pay for his carelessness.

Answer: False. A voter may return a spoiled ballot to the precinct election officials and receive another ballot. Each voter may receive no more than three ballots. Iowa Code § 49.100 (2003).

7. Disabled voters may only vote at the County Auditor’s Office.

Answer: False. Each precinct must have a machine or voting booth accessible to disabled voters. If a voter cannot use the machine then she must be allowed to vote a paper ballot. She may also request assistance from anyone except her employer or a union official.

8. What is the impact of being an “inactive voter”

Answer: If a person’s name does not appear as an active voter, the election official shall require a voter to show identification.