Nationwide, voter suppression and intimidation, lack of polling locations and poll workers, and the public health threat caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have all combined to create serious barriers to voting. President Donald Trump himself has attacked the integrity of our election system, the U.S. Postal Service, absentee ballots and voting by mail.
As the elected leaders in our state, you have a sworn duty to uphold our democratic process, especially when our elections are threatened.
We, a growing statewide alliance of labor unions, community organizations, student groups, faith communities and political leaders, call on you to fulfill this critical responsibility.
American citizens have the right to vote and have their vote counted. This is a bedrock principle of a democratic society. It’s not up to the president to decide what ballots get counted and which ones don’t.
As the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state auditor, speaker of the House, Senate majority leader, and county auditors of Iowa, you must put democracy over politics, honor the votes and voices of the people, count every vote, and reaffirm that this election is not over until every vote is counted.
The people of Iowa have entrusted you with the power to oversee free and fair elections. How will you use that power to make sure every citizen who wants to vote can vote, and that the results of the election will not be certified until every vote is counted?
This letter is signed by members of Democracy Defenders Iowa:
Jaylen Cavil, Des Moines Black Liberation Movement
Tamara Marcus and Nicole LeGrand, Advocates for Social Justice Cedar Rapids
Denise Cheeseman, Dulce Escorcia, and Alexa Rodriguez, Iowa Student Action
Joe Henry, political director; Nick Salavar, state director, LULAC Iowa
Cherie Mortice and Pat Bowen, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund
Charlie Wishman, President, Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO
Danny Homan, AFSCME Council 61
Brad D. Greve, President, Great River Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO
Mark Cooper, President, South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Scott Punteney, President, Western Iowa Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Connie Ryan, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and Action Fund
Matt Russell, executive director; Deaconess Irene R. DeMaris, associate director, Iowa Interfaith Power & Light
Courtney Reyes, One Iowa
Matt Sinovic, Director, Progress Iowa
Amber Bordolo, Executive Director, Quad Cities Interfaith
Julia Zalenski, Prairielands Freedom Fund
John Jepsen, UE Local 896-COGS
Cathy Glasson and Katie Biechler, SEIU Local 199
Emily Sinnwell, Maureen Vasile, Ann Houlahan, Iowa City Catholic Worker House
Ala Mohamed, Iowa Freedom Riders
Kimberly Karol, President, Iowa Postal Workers union
Audrey Keith, Iowa City Democratic Socialists of America
Nate Monson, Iowa Safe Schools
Frank Cordaro, Des Moines Catholic Worker
Mazahir Salih, Interim Executive Director, the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
Olga Guevara, Executive Director, Unity in Action, an organization that works with the Siouxland Latinx community
Chris Schwartz, Iowans for Democratic Action, Black Hawk County Supervisor
Eloise Cranke, Coordinator, Methodist Federation for Social Action, Iowa chapter
Ahna Kruzic, Director, Women, Food and Agriculture Network
Juan Manuel Galvez Ibarra, El Trueque Latino Magazine
Stephany Hoffelt, Iowa City Mutual Aid Collective
Andrew Thomas and Sabri Sky, Board Members; Mandi Nichols, Director, Corridor Community Action Network
Eddie Mauro, New Frontier Action Fund
Rob Johnson, No Justice No Peace
Sikowis (Christine Nobiss), Great Plains Action Society
Sen. Janet Peterson, Democratic Leader, Iowa Senate, Senate District 18
Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach, Senate District 23
Sen. Tony Bisignano, Senate District 17
Sen. Claire Celsi, Senate District 21
Sen. Bill Dotzler, Senate District 31
Sen. Zach Wahls, Senate District 37
Sen. Jim Lykam, Senate District 45
Sen. Joe Bolkcom, Senate District 43
Sen. Nate Boulton, Senate District 16
Sen. Eric Giddens, Senate District 30
Sen. Rob Hogg, Senate District 33
Rep. Marti Anderson, House District 36
Rep. David Jacoby, House District 74
Rep. Mary Mascher, House District 86
Rep. Ross Wilburn, House District 46
Rep. Liz Bennett, House District 65
Stacey Walker, Linn County Supervisor
Lisa Green-Douglas, Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Rod Sullivan, Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Patrick Morrissey, Ward 3 City council member, Waterloo
Jonathan Greider, Waterloo City council member Ward 2
Ross Grooters, Pleasant Hill City Council
Roxanna Moritz, Scott County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections