Message from GOP lawmakers to Iowans: We don't want you voting
Republican state lawmakers are on a mission: Make it as difficult as possible for Iowans to vote.
Their latest effort to fulfill this mission came in the form of a last-minute 30-page amendment to a previously simple, noncontroversial bill. Sen. Roby Smith, R-Davenport, said the new legislation, passed along party lines after a contentious late-night debate, is intended to support safe, secure and reliable elections.
It is not. Iowa already has safe, secure and reliable elections.
The goal is voter suppression.
The bill, among other things, prohibits the secretary of state from mailing absentee ballot requests to Iowans without a written voter request.
In other words, it would prevent the current secretary, Republican Paul Pate, from doing exactly what he recently did. To promote voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, he sent mail-in ballot request forms for the June 2 primary to all registered voters in the state.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2020/06/08/gop-state-lawmakers-dedicated-making-harder-iowans-vote-editorial/3173108001/