Republican voting bills could bring Democrats back to power in Iowa

I have been following with interest The Gazette coverage of House Study Bill 697. Partly because voting affects every Iowan. Partly because I met and know some of the legislators involved. Annual voting bills originated with Republicans since they took control of both chambers of the legislature in 2017. Regardless of Rep. Kaufmann’s recent statement to The Gazette, the impact of annual election structure revisions is to make elections more difficult for Iowans.

While the majority party continues to ratchet down election restrictions, they apparently don't understand that whatever scheme they devise will serve Democratic success in re-taking control of the legislature. Democrats follow the rules, no matter who wrote them, and eventually will use them to leverage the power of the electorate. We did this during the 2008 election when Iowa's electoral votes went to Barack Obama and we can do it again.

Republicans can dink around all they want. It won't mean diddly-squat when the Iowa electorate moves to replace them. The movement will be bigger than only what Democrats want because Democrats put people before politics and that appeals to voters regardless of party. The day for change is coming, maybe as soon as November.

Paul Deaton

Solon