49.73 Time of opening and closing polls.
1. At all elections, except as otherwise permitted by this section, the polls shall be opened at 7:00 a.m. if at least one official from each of the political parties referred to in section 49.13 is present. On the basis of voter turnout for recent similar elections and factors considered likely to so affect voter turnout for the forthcoming election as to justify shortened voting hours for that election, the commissioner may direct that the polls be opened at 12:00 noon for:
a. Any election conducted for a benefited district.
b. Any election conducted for the unincorporated area of a county.
2. a. All polling places where the candidates of or any public question submitted by any one political subdivision are being voted upon shall be opened at the same hour. The hours at which the respective precinct polling places are to open shall not be changed after publication of the notice required by section 49.53. The polling places shall be closed at 8:00 p.m. for all elections.
b. The legislative services agency shall place on the internet site of the general assembly information regarding the opening and closing times of polling places until and including November 7, 2024. This paragraph is repealed effective July 1, 2025.
[C51, §251; R60, §486; C73, §611; C97, §1096, 2751, 2754, 2756; S13, §1087-a6, 1096, 2754, 2756; C24, 27, §565, 791, 4202, 4211; C31, 35, §565, 791, 4216-c9; C39, §565, 791, 4216.09; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §43.37, 49.73, 277.9; C75, 77, 79, 81, §49.73]
94 Acts, ch 1180, §13; 2002 Acts, ch 1134, §37, 38, 115; 2007 Acts, ch 59, §11, 19; 2008 Acts, ch 1115, §97; 2009 Acts, ch 138, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 155, §25, 26, 44; 2021 Acts, ch 12, §36, 73; 2021 Acts, ch 174, §10, 34, 37
Referred to in §53.2
Subsection 2 amended
Structure Iowa Code
Title II - ELECTIONS AND OFFICIAL DUTIES
Chapter 49 - METHOD OF CONDUCTING ELECTIONS
Section 49.1 - Elections included.
Section 49.2 - Oversight by the state commissioner.
Section 49.3 - Election precincts and districts.
Section 49.4 - Precincts drawn by county board.
Section 49.5 - City precincts.
Section 49.6 - Power to combine township and city precincts.
Section 49.7 - Reprecincting schedule and filing requirements.
Section 49.8 - Changes in precincts.
Section 49.9 - Proper place of voting.
Section 49.10 - Polling places for certain precincts.
Section 49.11 - Notice of boundaries of precincts — merger or division.
Section 49.12 - Election boards.
Section 49.13 - Commissioner to appoint members, chairperson.
Section 49.14 - Substitute precinct election officials.
Section 49.15 - Commissioner to draw up election board panel.
Section 49.16 - Tenure of election board panel.
Section 49.18 - Vacancies occurring on election day.
Section 49.19 - Unpaid officials, paper ballots optional for certain city elections.
Section 49.20 - Compensation of members.
Section 49.21 - Polling places — accessibility — signs.
Section 49.23 - Notice of change.
Section 49.24 - Schoolhouses as polling places.
Section 49.25 - Equipment required at polling places.
Section 49.26 - Commissioner to decide method of voting — counting of ballots.
Section 49.28 - Commissioner to furnish registers and supplies.
Section 49.29 - Voting by ballot or machine.
Section 49.30 - All candidates and issues on one ballot — exceptions.
Section 49.31 - Arrangement of names on ballot — restrictions.
Section 49.32 - Candidates for president in place of electors.
Section 49.33 - Single voting target for certain paired offices.
Section 49.35 - Order of arranging tickets on lever voting machine ballot.
Section 49.36 - Candidates of nonparty organization.
Section 49.37 - Arrangement of ballot.
Section 49.38 - Candidate’s name to appear but once.
Section 49.39 - Dual nomination.
Section 49.40 - Failure to designate.
Section 49.41 - More than one office prohibited.
Section 49.42 - Form of official ballot.
Section 49.42A - Form of official ballot.
Section 49.42B - Form of official ballot — candidates for president and vice president.
Section 49.43 - Constitutional amendment or other public measure.
Section 49.45 - General form of ballot.
Section 49.46 - Marking ballots on public measures.
Section 49.47 - Notice on ballots.
Section 49.48 - Notice for judicial officers and constitutional amendments.
Section 49.49 - Certain sample ballots prohibited.
Section 49.50 - Endorsement and delivery of ballots.
Section 49.51 - Commissioner to control printing.
Section 49.53 - Publication of ballot and notice.
Section 49.54 - Cost of publication.
Section 49.55 - Delivery of supplies to officials.
Section 49.56 - Maximum cost of printing.
Section 49.57 - Method and style of printing ballots.
Section 49.57A - Form of official ballot — implementation by rule.
Section 49.58 - Effect of death of certain candidates.
Section 49.63 - Time of printing — inspection and correction.
Section 49.64 - Number of ballots delivered.
Section 49.65 - Packing ballots — delivery — receipts — records.
Section 49.66 - Reserve supply of ballots.
Section 49.67 - Form of reserve supply.
Section 49.68 - State commissioner to furnish instructions.
Section 49.70 - Precinct election officials furnished instructions.
Section 49.71 - Posting instruction cards and sample ballots.
Section 49.72 - Absentee voters designated before polling place opened.
Section 49.73 - Time of opening and closing polls.
Section 49.74 - Voters entitled to vote after closing time.
Section 49.76 - How administered.
Section 49.77 - Ballot furnished to voter.
Section 49.78 - Voter identity and signature verification.
Section 49.80 - Examination on challenge.
Section 49.81 - Procedure for voter to cast provisional ballot.
Section 49.82 - Voter to receive one ballot — endorsement.
Section 49.83 - Names to be marked on election register.
Section 49.84 - Marking and return of ballot.
Section 49.85 - Depositing ballots.
Section 49.86 - Failure to vote — surrender of ballot.
Section 49.87 - Prohibited ballot — taking ballot from polling place.
Section 49.88 - Limitation on persons in booth and time for voting.
Section 49.89 - Selection of officials to assist voters.
Section 49.90 - Assisting voter.
Section 49.91 - Assistance indicated on register.
Section 49.93 - Number of votes for each office.
Section 49.94 - How to mark a straight ticket.
Section 49.95 - Voting part of ticket only.
Section 49.96 - Offices with more than one person to be elected.
Section 49.97 - How to mark a mixed ticket.
Section 49.98 - Counting ballots.
Section 49.99 - Writing name on ballot.
Section 49.100 - Spoiled ballots.
Section 49.101 - Defective or wrong ballot does not nullify vote.
Section 49.102 - Defective ballots.
Section 49.103 - Wrong ballots.
Section 49.104 - Persons permitted at polling places.
Section 49.105 - Ordering arrest.
Section 49.107 - Prohibited acts on election day.
Section 49.109 - Employees entitled to time to vote.
Section 49.113 - Official neglect or misconduct.
Section 49.120 - Promise of position.
Section 49.121 - Promise of influence.
Section 49.123 - Courthouse open on election day.
Section 49.124 - Training course by commissioner — continuing education program.
Section 49.125 - Compensation of trainees.
Section 49.126 - Manual by state commissioner.