The only people who may return a ballot for a voter are:

• someone living in the voter’s household
• an immediate family member
• a special precinct election official delivering a ballot for health care residents
• a delivery agent, in the case of a voter unable to return a ballot due to blindness or other disability

Yes. There is a myth that absentee ballots only get counted if the election is close, however, this is not true. Under Iowa law, every ballot must be counted.