Iowa Secretary of State (SoS), Paul Pate, is expected to ask for Legislative Council Approval to Mail Absentee Ballots to All Registered Iowa Voters for the upcoming November General Election.
Due to the COVID-19 Outbreak, Governor Kim Reynolds extended the Public Health Disaster Emergency through July 25th, tasking Pate with adapting Uniform Election Processes and Procedures that will allow most Iowans to Vote Safely during the Pandemic.
Pate is scheduled to ask for Legislative Council Approval to Mail the Absentee Ballots to All Active Iowa Voters, allowing for Iowans to Avoid the Polls and hopefully Reduce the Spread of the Coronavirus.
The Mailings would include Additional Information regarding Voting Processes and Information on the impact COVID-19 will have on Elections.
In June, Reynolds Signed into Law a Bill that Limits the Secretary of State’s Ability to send Absentee Ballot Requests to All Registered Voters.
The Secretary of State must now seek Legislative Approval in order to Send them.
This move followed a Record Turnout in this year’s Primary Election. That Turnout is largely because of a Surge in Absentee Voting.
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is Suing the SoS over Voter Suppression.
I think a Better Process is:
- Mail Early, All Registered Voters an Absentee Ballot Request, and use the Undelivered Requests, with a Process to Clean the State's Voter Rolls.
- With the Postal System Problems, use Secure Ballot Drop-Boxes and where possible, Mobile Ballot Units with a Member of the Board of Elections Staff to Verify the Collection Process.
- Provide Voters with a Tracking System to Verify: Ballot Arrived; Ballot was Counted; and a Process to Correct any Problems with the Ballot so they can be Corrected in Time to be Counted.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
