Judge dismisses Kayla Koether's petition involving House District 55 election absentee ballots

Polk County Judge Scott Beattie has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Democratic House District 55 candidate Kayla Koether asking that 29 absentee ballots cast in the election be opened and counted.

In a ruling issued late Thursday, Judge Beattie said, "the Iowa House of Representatives, in exercising its sovereign power under Article III, section 7, has the exclusive right to determine the merits of this contest."

Judge Beattie said it is the legislative branch, not the judicial branch, that has been constitutionally given the power to decide contests involving elections for the Iowa House.

Beattie's complete ruling is linked below.