Iowa voters soon will need to show identification at the polls under a new law signed Friday by Gov. Terry Branstad. The measure overhauls Iowa’s election laws through a series of changes that Republicans say are needed to ensure the integrity of the process and to prevent fraud, but which Democrats and others argue will suppress votes by creating barriers for the poor, elderly, people with disabilities and minorities. “Protecting the integrity of our election system is very important,” Branstad said at a public bill signing Friday. “And we’re very proud that Iowa has a tradition and history of doing so, and this is going to strengthen our ability and make it more effective and efficient.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, which lobbied against the bill, issued a statement saying it is considering litigation to stop the law from moving forward.
“Today, voting in Iowa just got more difficult and more complicated,” Executive Director Mark Springer said in the statement. “With Gov. Branstad signing this outrageous voter suppression bill into law, tens of thousands of Iowa eligible voters will be harmed.”
In addition to requiring identification at the polls, the law shortens the time period for early voting, eliminates the checkbox for straight-party voting and begins implementing new technology at polling locations.
Full Article: Branstad signs controversial voter ID bill into law.