The attorney representing five people who allegedly voted despite having felony convictions is asking the court to throw out the cases. The five — Ricco Cooper, Robert Earl Anthony, Harold Redd Jr., Rosa Wilder and Glen Tank — are charged with election misconduct for allegedly voting in the 2012 general election without having their voting rights restored. On Monday, the five watched in Black Hawk County District Court as a judge set deadlines for the legal challenges.
Public Defender Aaron Hawbaker is arguing the state statute that prohibits felons from voting is improper because it oversteps the Iowa Constitution, which only bars people convicted of an “infamous crime” from casting ballots.
He said the statute goes against the state Constitution “on its face because it’s definition of a disqualified voter is substantially broader than the definition of ‘infamous crime’ leading to the disenfranchisement of constitutionally qualified voters.” Hawbaker argued the statute violates suffrage rights guaranteed by the Iowa Constitution.
Full Article: Defense challenges statute in voter fraud case.