Iowa lawmakers should reject new voting legislation

Just when Iowa voters thought they could navigate the labyrinth of election law changes passed by Republicans who control the Legislature, the Iowa House is considering another set of rules.

The bill, House File 2610, once again needlessly tinkers with absentee voting. Under the bill, county auditors can send out absentee ballots two days earlier than allowed by current law. But the legislation would require early ballots to be returned to the auditor no later than the close of business the day before the election. Currently, ballots received by the time the polls close on Election Day count.

And it wasn’t all that long ago that ballots postmarked by election day would be counted. Why do the bill’s backers want to toss out perfectly good ballots? Because, of course, it will increase voter “integrity” in a state that had no significant voting problems before lawmakers started passing nearly annual rule changes.

Also, ballot drop boxes outside auditor’s offices that provide a convenient way to drop off a completed ballot would be banned under the bill.

The bill also would require that absentee voters provide their driver’s license number or voter identification number when they submit a ballot. Current law requires use of the numbers on an absentee ballot request form. Why? Again, integrity.

“These laws, in my opinion, make Iowa the strongest election integrity state in the country,” said Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton.

The legislation also contains provisions that would allow candidates for Congress and the presidency to appear on Iowa ballots even if they are convicted of a felony. Kaufmann was a senior adviser for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in Iowa.

Republican supporters of the bill hope it will head off any challenges to Trump’s place on the Iowa ballot. It’s also possible they believe other election changes will hurt Democrats. Democratic voters are, traditionally, more likely to vote absentee than Republicans.

But that idea likely is outdated in Iowa, which is now a firmly red state where Republicans are elected by GOP voters and right-leaning independents. It’s likely this latest round of changes will ensnare many of those voters who might see their ballots tossed for not meeting the latest arbitrary deadline.

So, opposition to this bill shouldn’t be partisan. It’s in the best interest of all elected officials to make sure the electorate has every opportunity to participate in the democratic process. Embracing that idea would truly show legislative support for election integrity.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com