Rob Sand bought voters pizza. A Republican consultant alleges it was election misconduct.

A Republican political consultant filed a formal complaint Tuesday against Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand alleging unethical — and potentially criminal behavior — after Sand handed out pizzas while people were voting early Monday at the Polk County Election Office in downtown Des Moines.

Luke Martz of Riverfront Strategy Group sent the election misconduct complaint to Attorney General Brenna Bird, Secretary of State Paul Pate, Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens, Polk County Sheriff Kevin Schneider and Zach Goodrich, director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

A state law prohibits people from "treating" voters at a polling place or within 300 feet outside of one.

"Rob Sand is an elected official and one of the loudest and frequent surrogates for Lanon Baccam," Martz said Tuesday night. "It's incredibly inappropriate, not to mention illegal, for him to be handing out free food to voters who are about to cast their ballot for the 3rd Congressional (District) race and every other race. Sand knows better, but thinks he is above the law."

Martz said in the complaint: "The importance of election integrity and Iowa's election laws cannot be understated."

Martz's complaint stems from photos Sand posted of himself near Second and Court avenues in Des Moines, handing out pizzas a day before the general election and the last day of early voting. A voter captured an image of Sand also handing out pizza in the lobby.

“I gave hungry voters Little Caesars pizza," Sand told the Register on Tuesday night. "If I wanted to treat them, I would’ve bought Casey’s.”

He did not have further comment.

More: Live election updates: Polk County reports higher voter turnout than 2020

A spokesperson for Bird said the attorney general does not have a comment. Goodrich said the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board would not have authority over the complaint.

Martz's complaint alleges Iowa law prohibits the practice of handing out food or other treats to voters waiting in line to cast ballots on Election Day, and contends the law includes those who vote early.

It quotes Iowa Code section 39A.4(1)(a)(1), which prohibits any person from "treating voters ... during the receiving of the ballots, either on the premises of a polling place or within 300 feet of an outside door of a building affording access to a room where the polls are held." The law says doing so constitutes third-degree election misconduct, a serious misdemeanor.

Martz said the law requires the attorney general to investigate allegations of election misconduct.

Martz has worked in a dozen states managing large and small political and advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, according to his company profile.

(This story was updated to add new information and correct who has jurisdiction over the law.)

Lee Rood's Reader's Watchdog column helps Iowans get answers and accountability from public officials, the justice system, businesses and nonprofits. Reach her at [email protected], at 515-284-8549, on Twitter at @leerood or on Facebook at Facebook.com/readerswatchdog.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Rob Sand accused of election misconduct for giving out pizza