Iowa polls would close earlier in statewide elections under Senate bill

[jayschool2013]

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette

DES MOINES — The polls would close an hour earlier for some Iowa elections, and public universities and other state-owned buildings could not serve as satellite voting locations under legislation being considered by state lawmakers.

Sen. Roby Smith, R-Davenport, said the goal of the bill, Senate Study Bill 1241, is to strengthen state election laws to ensure Iowa elections are “safe and fair.”

SNIP

Among the bill’s provisions:
• Polls would close for all Iowa elections at 8 p.m. Currently, polls remain open for statewide elections until 9 p.m., and for some local elections the polls close at 8 p.m.;
• State-owned buildings, with the exception of county courthouses, could not serve as satellite voting locations.
• Absentee ballots would be required to be received by the auditor by Election Day. Current law allows absentee ballots to be received and counted so long as they were postmarked by the day before Election Day.
• Elections officials would be required to verify signatures on absentee ballots.
• College students would be given a form that would ask whether they plan to live in or outside Iowa upon graduation, and those who indicate they plan to live outside Iowa would be removed from the voter registration list.
• When a local entity asks voters for permission to issue bonds, ballots would be required to include information on potential increases in property taxes.

“We are making sure that elections are fair,” Smith said. “It’s the checks and balances that come with living in a constitutional republic that we have.”

[jayschool2013]

1. In 2018, I voted at

In 2018, I voted at the Iowa Memorial Union on the University of Iowa campus, where I work. In the long line with me were dozens of students, and that line persisted for several days during early voting.

This sounds as if it's a clear attempt to disenfranchise students and others who work at the university — that means, primarily, Democrats and other progressives.

[rurallib]

8. one of the biggest off-site voting places is the U of I Hospital.

I can't remember how many folks they have working at that monster - thousands and thousands.

That part of the bill is aimed directly at Iowa City and Johnson County.
We all knew when they passed the original voting suppression bills, that additions aimed at students wouldn't be far behind.

[progressoid]

2. 'elections are "safe and fair." '

'war is peace'

'double plus good'

[Chipper Chat]

3. We've always been at war with Eastasia.

[Cairycat]

4. Blatant attempt to disenfranchise Democratic voters

How the hell would this provision even be legal?

• College students would be given a form that would ask whether they plan to live in or outside Iowa upon graduation, and those who indicate they plan to live outside Iowa would be removed from the voter registration list.

[jayschool2013]

5. That is disturbing, isn't it?

Imagine being 19 years old and a sophomore at UI, ISU, UNI, Grinnell, Coe or somewhere else in the state. You're from Illinois originally, but you've taken pains to emancipate yourself from your parents as best you can, signed a lease on an apartment in Iowa City, Ames, Cedar Falls, etc., and moved your life to Iowa. Now, you have to project three years into the future about where you might end up after earning your BA?

If you live in Iowa at the time of the election, and you have a residence in the state at that time, as long as you vote only in Iowa, then it doesn't matter where you might be in three weeks (shit happens), let alone in three years.

Why not make everyone sign a form that they intend to be in Iowa in a year, two years, 10 years? (Oh, wait. Don't repeat that. It might give the GOP another idea.)

[rurallib]

7. If students have to fill out a form, everyone should

I can't imagine this would pass constitutional muster - very discriminatory. But it would be in the purview of the state. If repukes have their way, the Iowa SC will be an extension of the Republican Party.

[47of74]

6. Attention Iowa Republicans: you can take that form and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.

I'm an older student and I have no intention of signing your fucking form about where I intend to live.

[rurallib]

9. Verified signatures - who will verify and against what will they verify

I know my signature is quite different from what it was 30 years ago, 20 years ago and even 5 years ago.

I am getting older and now there is some shaking showing up in my writing.

So who is going to check it - a writing expert who could understand the differences over years? The auditor? A member of the auditor's staff? Some 3rd party company that has no interest in being right?

Hey Smith you jerk - if you want fair elections, let people vote!

[rurallib]

10. One more comment - bond information

Right off the bat, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. As all things repukes put up, I don't trust them. Who will provide the information on the potential increases in taxes? Oddly enough the way things are presented can give very different pictures.

One thing I would really love to see changed is the super-majority for bonding. It should also be done on a 50% + 1 majority instead of having a minority of 40% + 1 being able to stop any progress. My little town has a couple of really ugly schools thanks to that rule.