By Jacob Hall – The Iowa Standard
Election integrity advocates spoke out against a bill introduced by Secretary of State Paul Pate, but the legislation advanced on Thursday despite their objections.
House Study Bill 628 was called a “technical bill” with positive changes by supporters. The bill eliminates the option of county commissioners of elections to choose whether they use automatic tabulating equipment in certain elections. It also allows county auditors to use an electronic election register or poll book instead of a paper register or poll book.
Michael Ross of the Secretary of State’s office said the bill should be non-partisan and non-controversial. Ross noted Iowa ranks third in election administration by MIT and this bill aims to keep more uniform elections across Iowa.
Democrat Cerro Gordo County Auditor Wedmore said the bill will make some “positive changes” to election law.
Bev Lloyd, a Jasper County resident, said she has worked with a nonpartisan group to increase transparency in Iowa’s elections. This bill undermines that work.
“At a time when trust and integrity of electronic voting machines is at an all-time low, this is not building Iowans’ confidence in the process when it’s being proposed that our local commissioner wouldn’t be able to choose how votes are counted in their county,” Lloyd said. “To help gain back some trust and transparency in our elections, let the counties decide how to run their own elections.”
Eric Rosenthal also testified against the bill. He said transparency and trust are two values that should be encouraged in the voting process.
“Currently, many Iowans are having trouble trusting our election process,” he said. “About one-third have major concerns and another 10 percent have doubts. And many are distrustful of the voting process that appears to be impervious to inspection or validation. So in light of the current environment, why would the members of this legislature seek to deprive local officials of the option to hand count ballots, engendering distrust of said local officials by this legislation while at the same time asking that same level of trust from the public in the non-transparent automatic tabulation of the vote?”
Rosenthal pointed out that the Iowa Caucus, which happened just weeks ago, was counted by hand.
“It was timely performed, transparent and trustworthy,” he said.
Democrat State Rep. Adam Zabner noted he has a great deal of faith in Iowa’s elections but still has questions about the bill, so he wasn’t willing to sign off in support.
Republican State Rep. Brent Siegrist said he has a great deal of faith in Iowa’s election process as well.
“They’re fair and they’re accurate,” he said.
Republican State Rep. Austin Harris, who is managing the bill, said he also has a “great deal of confidence” in Iowa’s elections and vowed to continue work on the bill.