Secretary of State announces ‘voter integrity’ bill
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate meets with voter registration volunteers, as part of National Voter Registration day, Sept. 27 in the UDCC. After briefly talking about the events of last night’s presidential debate, Pate talked with the volunteers about the importance of voting, and the power a voter has.
January 5, 2017
Newly proposed legislation that will attempt to improve the accuracy of Iowa elections was unveiled by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate at a news conference Thursday.
The proposed legislation includes new implementations such as instituting electronic poll books at every Iowa precinct, along with requiring an identification number for voting via absentee ballot, according to a press release.
The bill would also require post-election audits in order to ensure an accurate election.
“As I have stated many times, protecting the integrity of our elections is my top priority and this legislation will help us do that,” Pate said in a statement. “This bill streamlines the system to make checking in easier and quicker. It will reduce waiting times at the polls, ensure every eligible Iowan is able to cast a ballot, and ensures their ballot will count.”
The bill would also work to create more uniform training for election staff and poll workers that would be continually refreshed. Any election misconduct would be required to be reported to the secretary of state.
The bill has received negative responses from some, including Iowa State Sen. Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls. Those who oppose the bill have fears that the proposed legislation could affect voter turnout.
In a statement released in response to Pate’s proposal, Danielson said, “Less than two months after praising the integrity of elections in Iowa, Secretary of State Paul Pate has released a partisan proposal that will suppress voter turnout across Iowa. Voter ID and other changes outlined today will disenfranchise older Iowans, younger Iowans and people of color.”
The purpose of the proposal is to help further ensure fair elections, the press release stated.
“We are one of the top states in the nation for voter registration and voter participation,” Pate said. “This legislation will not have any negative impact on either of those. Instead, it will help instill confidence in our voting system and let every Iowan know that their vote counts.”
In Story County, the total voter turnout for the 2016 general election averaged 74 percent. This is just 2 percent above the 72 percent Iowa average, according to Pate’s website.
