Letter: Keep elections free and accessible

It is a certainty that we will have a voter ID law in Iowa very soon. The League of Women Voters is opposed to Voter ID or any election law that puts another barrier between the voter and the ballot. But given that such a law is apparently inevitable, we ask our legislators to:

1. Provide a way for voters to be recognized without presentation of the actual card. If a voter can provide the voter number, he should be allowed to vote. E poll books currently recognize voters who supply the first few letters of their name. This recognition should be continued.

2. Provide a convenient way to cure a provisional ballot. If the voter must provide the voter ID number, it should be accepted by phone. If voter ID numbers are acceptable in writing on absentee ballots or ballot applications, they should not be required in person to cure a provisional ballot.

3. Provide easy, but secure replacement of voter ID cards.

4. Delay signature verification until speedy, simple, and reliable techniques are available to forestall polling place delays and possible bias in the verification process.

5. Provide sufficient money for necessary upgrades in voting equipment including e poll books and their supporting software and technical assistance.

Iowa's election process has long been recognized as one of the best. Our turnout in the recent election was nearly 70 percent. We need to take great care in making any changes. Keep Iowa elections free, fair, and accessible.

Myrna Loehrlein

President, League of Women Voters of Linn County

Cedar Rapids