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Read. Follow. Verify.Iowa Senate File 2287 Overhauls Election Conduct, Recounts, and Local Filings
Last action · May 2, 2026: Signed by Governor . H.J. 1160 .
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What This Bill Does
Senate File 2287 updates election procedures across Iowa by requiring s on all election equipment, altering recount thresholds, and shifting local nomination and objection filings exclusively to county commissioners of elections. The law also establishes mandatory investigation notification rules and sets specific timelines for absentee ballot counting boards.
Local candidates, school districts, and city clerks must alter where and how they submit nomination petitions and candidate objections, while county election offices assume direct responsibility for filings previously managed by city clerks or school secretaries.
- Senate File 2287 originated from the Senate Committee on State Government as a successor to SSB 3078. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
County commissioners of elections
County commissioners assume sole responsibility for accepting local election filings, managing recount boards, and ensuring all election equipment is sealed.
City clerks and school secretaries
City clerks and school board secretaries lose the authority to receive nomination papers and candidate filings for local elections.
Local candidates
Candidates must submit all nomination papers and handle petition objections through county election offices rather than municipal or school district offices.
Key Facts
- Election misconduct laws now apply to any day on which in-person voting takes place, including absentee and satellite voting.
- Law enforcement or state entities investigating an election or election officials must immediately notify the state commissioner of elections.
- Voter registrations designated as incomplete, pending, or unconfirmed for 90 days must be canceled if the commissioner cannot contact the registrant or resolve the defect.
- Recounts for local public measures requiring a 60% affirmative vote are triggered if the difference between passage and defeat is less than 1% or 50 votes, whichever is lesser.
Show all 8 facts
- All election equipment, including equipment not currently in use, must be secured by a tamper-evident seal at all times.
- County commissioners of elections must set absentee ballot and special voters precinct board convening times no later than 9:00 a.m. on election day for general and statewide special elections.
- All filings for city and school elections must be made directly with the county commissioner of elections, removing the authority to designate city clerks for filing receipts.
- Objections to city election petitions and nominations are shifted to be handled through county-level processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do candidates file nomination papers for city and school elections under this law?
What are the new security requirements for voting equipment?
When is an incomplete voter registration canceled?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
44 actions- May 2, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by Governor . H.J. 1160 .
- May 2, 2026HouseReported correctly enrolled, signed by Speaker and President, and sent to Governor. H.J. 1160 .
- Apr 15, 2026HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 900 .
- Apr 15, 2026SenateImmediate message. S.J. 797 .
- Apr 15, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 31, nays 16. S.J. 793 .
- Apr 15, 2026SenateFloorSenate concurred with S-5168 . S.J. 793 .
Show 38 earlier actions
- Apr 8, 2026HouseMessage from House, with amendment S-5168 . S.J. 749 .
- Apr 7, 2026HouseImmediate message. H.J. 835 .
- Apr 7, 2026HouseFloorPassed House , yeas 63, nays 29. H.J. 832 .
- Apr 7, 2026HouseFloorHouse concurred in Senate amendment H-8131 , as amended. H.J. 831 .
- Apr 7, 2026HouseFloorAmendment H-8289 to Senate amendment H-8131 adopted. H.J. 831 .
- Apr 2, 2026HouseAmendment H-8289 filed. H.J. 806 .
- Mar 3, 2026HouseSenate amendment H-8131 filed. H.J. 526 .
- Mar 3, 2026HouseMessage from Senate. H.J. 514 .
- Mar 3, 2026SenateImmediate message. S.J. 448 .
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate , yeas 44, nays 0. S.J. 447 .
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFloorAmendment S-5051 filed, adopted. S.J. 447 .
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSubstituted for SF 2287 . S.J. 446 .
- Mar 3, 2026SenateWithdrawn. S.J. 447 .
- Mar 3, 2026SenateHF 2501 substituted. S.J. 446 .
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFloorAmendment S-5053 filed, adopted. S.J. 446 .
- Feb 25, 2026SenateIntroducedRead first time, attached to SF 2287 . S.J. 408 .
- Feb 25, 2026HouseMessage from House. S.J. 408 .
- Feb 25, 2026HouseImmediate message. H.J. 434 .
- Feb 25, 2026HouseFloorPassed House , yeas 67, nays 25. H.J. 431 .
- Feb 25, 2026HouseFloorAmendment H-8029 adopted, as amended. H.J. 431 .
- Feb 25, 2026HouseFloorAmendment H-8043 to amendment H-8029 filed, adopted. H.J. 431 .
- Feb 25, 2026SenateAttached to HF 2501 . S.J. 408 .
- Feb 24, 2026HouseAmendment H-8029 filed. H.J. 414 .
- Feb 16, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 299 .
- Feb 16, 2026Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2501 .
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee vote: Yeas, 22. Nays, 0. Excused, 1. H.J. 271 .
- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee report, recommending amendment and passage. H.J. 271 .
- Feb 11, 2026Iowa LegislatureCommittee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2287 .
- Feb 11, 2026SenateCommittee report, approving bill. S.J. 261 .
- Feb 11, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 253 .
- Feb 5, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 4, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee recommends passage.
- Feb 3, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee Meeting: 02/05/2026 12:30PM Room 217 Conference Room.
- Jan 27, 2026HouseSubcommittee Meeting: 02/04/2026 8:00AM House Lounge.
- Jan 27, 2026HouseSubcommittee: Harris, Lundgren and Zabner. H.J. 160 .
- Jan 27, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, referred to State Government. H.J. 158 .
- Jan 27, 2026Iowa LegislatureSubcommittee: Rozenboom, Webster, and Winckler.
- Jan 27, 2026Iowa LegislatureIntroducedIntroduced, referred to State Government.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Centralization of Election Administration
The legislation systematically shifts local filing authorities and objection processes away from municipal and school entities toward county commissioners of elections.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.iowa.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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