821—2.15(48A) Verification of voter registration information.

1. 2.15(1)  When the application is received, the commissioner shall compare the Iowa driver’s license number, Iowa department of transportation-issued nonoperator’s identification card number, or the last four digits of the social security number of each mail application with the records of the department of transportation.

2. 2.15(2)  All of the following information on the application must match an existing record:

   1. a. All digits and numerals in the Iowa driver’s license number, Iowa department of transportation-issued nonoperator’s identification card number, or the last four digits of the social security number.
   2. b. Name.
   3. c. Date of birth, including the month, day and year.

3. 2.15(3)  If all three required elements do not match, the applicant shall be assigned a status of “pending” with reason “DL or SSN Not Verified.” The applicant shall be notified that the applicant’s voter registration is in pending status and the applicant will be required to show identification and proof of residence pursuant to 721—21.3(49,48A) before voting in the county. The notice shall include the following statement:

   “Your voter registration application is pending because the information you provided on your application could not be verified. Your name, date of birth and identification number were compared to the Iowa driver’s license records and your identification number cannot be verified.

   “Any voter with a ‘pending’ registration status is required to present an acceptable photo identification and proof of residence pursuant to Iowa Code section 48A.8 in person before their ballot will be counted. You may submit identification either by showing your identification in person when you vote or by mailing a photocopy of your identification to the county commissioner’s office.”

4. 2.15(4)  If the application is verified, the registration record shall be made “active.” The registrar or commissioner shall keep records showing whether the information in the application was verified and the date of the verification. If the application cannot be verified, the record shall show what information on the application did not match an existing record. The verification record shall be kept for the period of time required in Iowa Code section 48A.32.
5. 2.15(5)  If the application is verified, but the registered voter’s name does not appear in the department of transportation-issued driver’s license and nonoperator’s identification card files, the commissioner shall issue a voter identification card to the registered voter’s address on file pursuant to 2017 Iowa Acts, House File 516, section 18.

All new voter registration applications shall be verified. The registrar may arrange with the department of transportation for county commissioners of elections to verify voter registration records without submitting the registration information to the registrar.

[ARC 7883B, IAB 7/1/09, effective 7/1/09; ARC 3454C, IAB 11/8/17, effective 12/31/17]