Photo: JillianCain / iStock / Getty Images
Two election-related bills are signed into law, which officials say will strengthen integrity in Iowa's elections.
House File 954 allows election workers to challenge a voter at the polls on the basis of their citizenship status, and bans ranked-choice voting in the state.
It also requires political parties to receive two-percent of the vote in three consecutive general elections to be recognized as a major political party in Iowa.
House File 928 is changing the state's election recount procedures, placing county auditors and election workers in charge of recounts instead of recount boards.
Local and state legislative candidates can now only request a recount if the race was decided by one-percent or 50 votes. For statewide and federal races, candidates can only request a recount if the election was within point one-five percent.
In a statement, Secretary of State Paul Pate said:
I commend the Iowa Legislature and Governor Reynolds for recognizing the importance of these bills in strengthening and maintaining Iowa’s election integrity. These new laws add additional layers of integrity to our robust election procedures, supporting our efforts to balance election integrity and voter participation.