House Journal: Page 2264: Wednesday, June 4, 2003
restrictive on the ability of citizens to vote than the federal HAVA and that does not
appropriate the necessary state matching funds to obtain federal funds to help
implement the new federal voting requirements.
Iowa could receive up to $35 million in federal funds to implement HAVA. No state
match is required on the first $5 million, which Iowa has already received, and Iowa is
required to put up a state match of $1.5 million in order to receive the balance of up to
$30 million over three fiscal years. I am particularly dismayed that the Republican
leadership did not have the foresight and common sense to appropriate state matching
funds in House File 614 or elsewhere for the state to qualify for additional federal
funds. The Legislature should have appropriated those funds rather than create an
unfunded federal mandate for counties. This is shortsighted and will necessitate a
supplemental appropriation next year. At a time when Iowa, like every other state, is
experiencing declining revenues from the national economic recession, the Legislature
should be concerned about leveraging federal dollars.
Many of the arguments raised by supporters of House File 614 are apparently
based on concerns about Iowa's voting system. Like most Iowans, I believe those
concerns are unfounded. We in Iowa can be proud of a system that is fair, lawful, and
provides clean elections. In fact, a Des Moines Register poll last November indicated
that most Iowans trust our voting system, with 29 percent giving the system the
highest possible score and another 54 percent rating it just slightly less positively.
I do not support Section 3 that prescribes an entirely new state plan advisory
committee to be appointed by the Governor with confirmation by the Senate. This new
committee will most likely not be able to meet the state and federal publication and
comment requirements and have a plan completed by September 30, 2003, as required
in order to obtain federal funds. A State planning advisory committee has already
been meeting since February 28, 2003, to prepare a state plan. This plan has been
completed, published, and is currently receiving public comment.
I do not support Section 20 that, in part, reduces Iowans access to voting by closing
the polls at 8:00 p.m. rather than the current 9:00 p.m. In the 2002 general elections,
it is estimated that over 5,000 additional Iowans voted during the last hour. Why
make it more difficult for so many of our working Iowans and working single mothers -
for instance, those who may not be able to vote early in the morning - to vote. We
should not.
I do not support Division II that places, in part, unnecessary restrictions on
absentee voting. The Division reduces the time period during which a registered voter
can request an absentee ballot to only 70 days before the election. This restriction
would make it more difficult for our senior citizens and others to vote. During the
summer of 2002, for instance, over 50,000 Independent, Republican and Democratic
voters requested absentee ballots for the 2002 General Election. Under House File
614, those applications would hae been returned without an absentee ballot.
Additionally, this Division establishes an absentee ballot courier who is authorized to
deliver absentee ballot applications to applicants. This provision places additional
financial burdens on counties to train the couriers, which I believe is unwise.
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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