2009 Iowa Code
Title 2 - Elections and Official Duties
Subtitle 1 - Elections
CHAPTER 53 - ABSENT VOTERS
53.45 - SPECIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT.

        53.45  SPECIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT.
         1. a.  As provided in this section, the commissioner shall
      provide special absentee ballots to be used for state general
      elections.  A special absentee ballot shall only be provided to an
      eligible elector who completes an application stating both of the
      following to the best of the eligible elector's belief:
         (1)  The eligible elector will be residing or stationed or working
      outside the continental United States.
         (2)  The eligible elector will be unable to vote and return a
      regular absentee ballot by normal mail delivery within the period
      provided for regular absentee ballots.
         b.  The application for a special absentee ballot shall not be
      filed earlier than ninety days prior to the general election.  The
      special absentee ballot shall list the offices and measures, if
      known, scheduled to appear on the general election ballot.  The
      eligible elector may use the special absentee ballot to write in the
      name of any eligible candidate for each office and may vote on any
      measure.
         2.  With any special absentee ballot issued under this section,
      the commissioner shall include a listing of any candidates who have
      filed before the time of the application for offices that will appear
      on the ballot at that general election and a list of any measures
      that have been referred to the ballot before the time of the
      application.
         3.  Write-in votes on special absentee ballots shall be counted in
      the same manner provided by law for the counting of other write-in
      votes.  The commissioner shall process and canvass the special
      absentee ballots provided under this section in the same manner as
      other absentee ballots.
         4.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 53.49, an eligible
      elector who requests a special absentee ballot under this section may
      also make application for an absentee ballot under section 53.2 or an
      armed forces absentee ballot under section 53.40.  If the regular
      absentee or armed forces absentee ballot is properly voted and
      returned, the special absentee ballot is void and the commissioner
      shall reject it in whole when special absentee ballots are canvassed.
      

         87 Acts, ch 221, §29; 88 Acts, ch 1119, §30; 2008 Acts, ch 1032,
      §201
         Referred to in § 48A.5, 53.38