Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SSB1013

Introduced
1/14/25  

Caption

A bill for an act requiring primary elections for the nomination of candidates for city, school district, and merged area elections, and including applicability provisions.

Note

This legislation reflects a significant change in how local elections are conducted and may have far-reaching implications for the political landscape in Iowa, particularly in larger municipalities.

Impact

The implementation of this bill is designed to standardize the election processes across the state. It requires that all candidates for city, school district, and merged area offices must be nominated through primary elections held under the state's election code. Additional changes include the repeal of previous nomination methods, such as petition-based nominations and runoff elections. The bill also allows for the flexibility of using optical scan voting systems or hand-counting ballots as determined by the county board of supervisors, giving local entities more control over their voting processes.

Summary

Senate Study Bill 1013 (SSB1013) proposes to mandate primary elections for the nomination of candidates for city, school district, and merged area elections in Iowa. Currently, city elections in certain jurisdictions are conducted nonpartisan, with specific provisions allowing for special charter cities to nominate candidates differently. SSB1013 aims to unify the nomination process across various governmental levels by embracing a partisan primary election framework, especially affecting cities with populations over fifty thousand that have previously opted for nonpartisan elections.

Contention

While supporters tout the bill as a way to enhance democratic participation by establishing a more competitive and transparent nomination process through primaries, there are concerns regarding the shift from nonpartisan to partisan elections. Critics argue that this could lead to increased partisanship in local governance and potentially alienate candidates who do not wish to affiliate with the larger political parties. The broad applicability of the bill, set to take effect for elections after January 1, 2027, raises questions about the readiness of local governments to adapt to these changes and the possible impact on voter turnout.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

IA SB658

In dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for affidavits of candidates; and, in nomination of candidates, further providing for affidavits of candidates, for nominations by political bodies, for limitations on eligibility of candidates and for affidavits of candidates.

IA HF2623

A bill for an act relating to elections for school district and city officers, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 2191.)

IA HF2191

A bill for an act relating to elections for school district and city officers and bonds, and including applicability provisions.(See HF 2623.)

IA HB123

In county boards of elections, further providing for powers and duties of county boards; in datesof elections and primaries and special elections, providing for authorization of ranked choice voting in municipal elections; in nomination of candidates, further providing for which candidates nominated; in ballots, further providing for form of official primary ballot; in electronic voting systems, further providing for election day procedures and the process of voting; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for method of marking ballots and depositing same in districts in which ballots are used and for count and return of votes in districts in which ballots are used; and, in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for persons receiving highest number of votes to be declared elected.

IA HF2019

A bill for an act relating to nominations for election to school district offices.

IA HB2262

In dates of elections and primaries and special elections, further providing for special elections for United States Senator and nominations and for nominations for special election for Representative in Congress, Senator and Representative in the General Assembly and member of council or legislative body of cities, boroughs, towns and townships; and, in nominations of candidates, further providing for number of signers required for nomination petitions of candidates at primaries, for nominations by minor political parties, for place and time of filing nomination petitions and filing fees and for nominations by political bodies, repealing provisions relating to filing fee and further providing for examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and papers and for vacancy in party nomination by failure to pay filing fee or for failure to file loyalty oath.

IA HSB281

A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 954.)

IA HB978

In district election officers, further providing for election officers to be sworn; in dates of el ections and primaries and special elections, further providing for affidavits of candidates; in nomination of candidates, further providing for petition may consist of several sheets and statement of circulator, for affidavits of candidates, for examination of nomination petitions, certificates and papers and return of rejected nomination petitions, certificates and papers, for vacancy in party nomination by failure to pay filing fee or for failure to file loyalty oath, for affidavits of candidates, for filling of certain vacancies in public office by means of nomination certificates and nomination papers and for substituted nominations to fill certain vacancies for a November election; in ballots, further providing for form of ballots and printing ballots; in returns of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of computing irregular ballots; and replacing references to "justice of the peace" with "magisterial district judge."

IA AB868

Primary elections: county officers: top two candidates.

IA HB1898

In nomination of candidates, further providing for number of signers required for nomination petitions of candidates at primaries.

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