Pate supports voter ID

Americans protect what we value with safety measures and extra security. In Iowa we have a long history of fair and honest elections and Iowans want safeguards to protect our tradition.

The safest measure to protect your vote is with voter identification. I will work to protect the integrity and value of every citizen's vote by supporting verifiable voter identification.

Recent studies show voter participation increased in states that implemented voter identification laws. Currently, 93 percent of voters have a driver's license with photo ID and, working with the Iowa Department of Transportation, we can provide the remaining 7 percent with a non-driver ID. In addition, 68 counties use technology such as electronic poll books for voter verification. Working together, we can make it easy to vote and hard to cheat.

I plan to re-establish the Jobs Coalition for Main Street Iowa program that works with small business owners and local chambers to identify and reduce the government red tape that hampers business growth and job creation. By cutting unnecessary government red tape and streamlining paperwork, we reduce costs to Iowa taxpayers.

I am committed to ensuring those who defend our freedoms have every viable option to participate in elections. My goal is to make Iowa one of the top states in military voting by pursuing technology that allows overseas military voters to turn a 60-day process into a 5-minute transaction. South Dakota successfully incorporated this secure technology and I want to honor our military who defend our freedoms to make this possible.

People across our great state work to make a difference by giving back. Being a public servant is my way of giving back to a state I love and where I was born and raised. My mother and father taught me to make the world a better place. I volunteer with youth programs, provide services to my church and serve as a Squadron Commander in the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary. I am honored Iowans voted for me to serve as a state senator, mayor and as Iowa's former Secretary of State.

Running for public office is not easy and I applaud The Gazette for allowing candidates to share our vision and ideas on how we plan to make the world a better place. Please help make a difference. ParticiPATE and vote.

' Paul D. Pate is the Republican candidate for Iowa Secretary of State.