Iowa voters would be required to present identification at the voting booth under a plan unveiled Thursday by Secretary of State Paul Pate. The proposal by the state’s chief election official, which will be considered in the 2017 Iowa Legislature’s session, is aimed at ensuring the integrity of Iowa’s elections, Pate said. However, Democratic legislators and civil libertarians promised a fight over the issue, raising concerns that new rules could suppress voter turnout. Pate’s plan would require all voters to present an ID, which could include an Iowa driver’s license, passport, or military ID card for all who have them, and issuing a new free ID to all existing active voters. College IDs would not be accepted. Signatures would be verified at polling sites. … State Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, who chaired the Senate State Government Committee last session, issued a statement contending Pate’s plan will disenfranchise older Iowans, younger Iowans and people of color.
“Senate Democrats have worked with Republican legislators and county auditors over the years to increase voter participation and election integrity in our state. The proposals today from Secretary Pate turn back the clock by making election policy a partisan issue,” Danielson said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa has concerns about Pate’s plan, including questions regarding how poll workers could verify signatures, said Daniel Zeno, ACLU-Iowa’s legislative counsel.
“We are against voter ID laws,” Zeno said. ACLU officials said one of their worries is that people will be required to go through extra time and effort simply to exercise their constitutionally assured right to vote.
Full Article: Proposal would require ID for Iowa voters.