All of our ballots should be counted in Iowa

My current Congressional representative’s election was decided by just six votes in the 2020. In another very close legislative election several years ago in northeast Iowa, some absentee ballots weren’t counted. Legislators justified their decision to ignore those ballots because they lacked an official "postmark"; although USPS coding verified timely receipt. Aware of our postal service’s ongoing problems to deliver timely mail, our GOP state legislators shortened the amount of time voters have to request and submit absentee ballots. These issues are concerning.

On Feb. 15 I received a first class letter postmarked Feb. 3 in Omaha. It took 12 days for USPS to deliver it! This heightened my concern about the lack of accountability in our new voting bill. How can we be sure all legally cast absentee ballots will be counted and won't be discarded for circumstances beyond any voter's control? Our legislators say these constraints are necessary even though there's no significant voter fraud in Iowa.

We need to know now how our officials plan to count our ballots. Can they again disregard ballots delayed in the mail or any other reason that’s not the fault of the voter? Why does it seem they are intent on restricting our ability to cast ballots and have them counted? Our legislators and governor need to be accountable to insure our voting rights aren't unnecessarily curtailed. This issue needs to be resolved promptly and not arbitrarily next November. All our votes should and need to be counted.

Ruth Izer

Iowa City