Meeting Public Comments

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

03-04-2025

Katherine Babb

Hi my name is Katie and Im from Poweshiek county. Please remove Division II of this bill we shouldnt spend legislative time on something that doesnt accomplish any actual goals and I want to continue the conversation about Ranked Choice Voting in Iowa. I believe that Ranked Choice Voting is one of the most financially responsible voting systems because it can be used to avoid costly runoff elections. Ranked Choice Voting also disincentivizes negative campaigning leading to healthier and more productive politics. Iowans deserve to explore new ideas and innovations, the state should not suppress conversations that can help Iowans. Thank you for your time.

03-05-2025

Dave and Rita Dudley

We would like to keep voting and election choices as fair as possible in Iowa and urge you to dismiss this bill outlawing Ranked Choice voting. Some Iowans would be more likely to run for election if they didnt have to choose a party. It would make County and small towns more efficient in conducting elections and it would save the state money. Please dont cut off our options for governance.

03-05-2025

Tyson Leyendecker [Salt Studios, LLC]

My name is Tyson, from West Des Moines, and I would like to see the "Ranked Choice Voting" language removed from Division II.Our votes are intended to elect officials and representatives that will do the most good for the most amount of people. Ranked choice voting broadens the possibility of finding the best candidates to make that happen. The State should not limit that possibility by creating an unnecessary ban. Ranked choice voting elects officials with a "true" majority, thus representing the most people. It can also save taxpayer money by streamlining any runoff process, because the voters only have to vote once.This portion of the bill seems like a fearful reaction to an opportunity to do something better.

03-05-2025

Anhie Ellerbroek

Please remove Division II of HSB 281. I support Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). I learned about RCV a few years ago, and it makes sense. Gosh, when I heard there was a bill on RCV, I initially thought the Iowa legislature was going to promote itnot oppose. RCV has great benefits. Please make a bill to change Iowa so we may use RCV. Thank you.

03-05-2025

Rebekah Jacobs

Please vote OPPOSED to HSB 281. Voting is a fundamental right guaranteed by our Constitution, and any effort to suppress the votes of American citizensbased on an unverified claim that they may not be citizensis unconstitutional. The creation of a new category of "unconfirmed" voters will only lead to confusion among citizens. If someone is flagged as "unconfirmed" before the registration deadline, will they have an opportunity to rectify the issue before the election, ensuring their vote isnt suppressed? Furthermore, eliminating the grace period for uncured ballots is another form of voter suppression. Changes in a persons handwriting can occur for a variety of reasons, including aging or health issues. A cured ballot can determine the outcome of local elections, but perhaps that is the intention. Voter suppression undermines the fairness of elections, the integrity of democracy; and, it hinders equal participation by disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups. Voter Suppression erodes public trust in the democratic process. Vote NO to HSB 281.

03-05-2025

Dwight Schumm

Hello, my name is Dwight from Iowa City and I would like to respectfully request that Division II be eliminated from this bill. I support ranked choice voting for multiple reasons including reducing the cost of elections by allowing voters to express their preferences on a single ballot and eliminating run off elections and/or primaries, incentivizing positive campaigning, and eliminating the "spoiler effect." I also believe it is premature to preemptively stifle debate on this as a potential improvement to elections when it isn't even currently legal in Iowa. I see this as a waste of your precious time as legislators, spending resources on a purely symbolic measure when we should be focused on making government more effective and efficient.Thank you for your consideration.

03-05-2025

Charlie Ratcliff

My name is Charlie Ratcliff from Linn County and I strongly oppose Division II of HSB 281 and urge you to not pass this legislation in this form. Banning rank choice voting taking away options and power from the people to run their communities the way they choose. It can be more efficient as opposed to having runoff elections since you only vote once, and with government needing to be more efficient, this is opposite of the direction our state needs to go. Please listen to the people and remove Division II.

03-05-2025

Matthew Gaul

Please do not ban Ranked Choice Voting.It isn't even legal, so why would you spend the time banning it?In fact, Ranked Choice Voting also known as instant runoff voting is a cost savings to tax payers. You should consider allowing local elections to use it if they want. That's government efficiency not this ineffectual ban.

03-05-2025

Ryan Zantingh

Please remove division II from this bill. I believe ranked choice voting could be a potential solution to the hyperpartisan system we now have, which rewards the extreme factions of each party and leaves the majoritymiddle feeling politically homeless. Please do not support a ban of ranked choice voting. We need to have a discussion about how to put power back in the hands of the peoplenot solidify an existing political framework that favors the "ruling class."

03-05-2025

Linda Goeldner

I do not understand the intent to take away the option to save money on elections, especially local elections. I live in Des Moines and I would prefer voting once, not twice if there is a tie vote. But there are numerous small towns in Iowa that occasionally have tie votes as well and would save the additional effort. Rank Choice Voting gives communities more LOCAL control, not less and would save the expense of a second election. What is the fear of allowing this option?Please remove Division II of HSB 281. Rank Choice Voting is more efficient than the single choice voting used today. Voters vote once, not twice. Officials only need to put on one election, not two.

03-05-2025

Leanne Smith

I live in Warren county and ranked choice voting would be a great option for our local elections. People want to know that their vote matters and the two party system isnt working very well. This also gives more control to communities and costs less to administer, why are you taking options away? Please vote no or remove division II on this bill.

03-05-2025

David Gion

Please Strike the Language in Section Two of this Bill Banning Rank Choice Voting:WHY?I have spent 35 years in the innovation space. Starting stuff and growing stuff. Sometimes building companies from scratch and sometimes taking new products to market for other companies. The process is almost always the same existing solutions work pretty good for a while and then someone or a group of someone's come up with a Better Way.Exploring Rank Choice Voting as a Better Way is the normal part of the process. I have spent the better part of 4 years looking into this "Potential Innovation" and all signs point to RCV being a Better Way than Single Choice Voting (what we use today).AND, IN the last 4 years I have been speaking with 1,000's of Iowans to get their take. 9 out of 10 have never heard about RCV. BUT when they do and understand it, easily 7580% of them want to give it a try. SO, I respectfully request you Strike Language in Section 2 of this bill that explicitly bans RCV. Part of being an Iowan and an American is leaning in on Innovation and Finding The Better Ways.Respectfully,Dave

03-05-2025

Jena Newell

Please BAN RCV (ranked choice voting) in Iowa. RCV is one more way for our votes to be manipulated! Its a very confusing and unfair method of voting. We never want our sacred vote going to anyone else other than the single person we voted for on day one. Candidates votes who are not in the top two majorities should never be rolled up into another candidates total. It is NOT a true representation of the general majority vote!

03-05-2025

Erin Bailey

Please vote No on Division II HSB 281.Banning something that is currently not legal seems illogical. As a concerned voting citizen of Iowa, I want my vote to count and to be given choices of who represents me in the Iowa legislature. Ranked Choice Voting should at least be open for discussion regarding this very important issue. So many voters feel like they are not being heard. By rushing through a ban on RCV with little to no open discussion will further voter frustration.

03-05-2025

Lori Stiles

Please vote YES on HSB 281 to ban RCV in Iowa. RCV, used in Alaska & Maine, has proven to be a disaster! Best is to NEVER allow it in our state. (Or ANY more states!)In Maine, the November 2018 Election had 283,000 ballots submitted. Up to 86,000 ballots were exhausted, i.e. thrown away (or just weren't counted in other words) because of using RCV Tabulating hoccus poccus. Talk about disenfranchising voters!!The population of the whole state of Maine equals that of the city of Boston alone, and it took three days to tabulate the ballots in Maine for Nov. 2018! All overtime for already tired Election ofc workers. $$$$ Can you imagine how long it would take for Iowa? Maine is ranked 42nd in population of the 50 states. Iowa is 30th in population, according to 2024 data. Not to mention that the amount of handling of the ballots is ridiculous, and would add to security issues.Per CPR Colorado Public Radio News on Nov. 6, 2024: "Ballot measures in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Colorado all failed easily last night, with voters rejecting similar ranked choice and open primary reforms that proponents argued would create more competitive political races, more choices and more moderate candidates. In Missouri, voters approved a constitutional amendment that prohibits ranked choice voting. And Arizona voters turned down a major election overhaul package that included open primaries and ranked choice voting."Proponents claim it is not confusing for our voters to vote and rank their choices. Perhaps not, but it is IN THE COUNTING of the votes cast that the complexity and confusion comes in and, thus, uses computer programming to tabulate. Computer programming is suspect when it comes to election integrity.Iowa should never allow this election countmanipulation tool. Please vote YES on HSB 281 to ban RCV and anything like it, in Iowa. Thank you.

03-05-2025

Amy Brown

Please remove Division II of HSB 281. I support Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). When I first heard of Ranked Choice Voting, I spent a lot of time researching it and it makes sense. It is cost efficient and has many benefits. I would love to be able to have Ranked Choice Voting in Iowa.

03-05-2025

Shannan Barnes

Vote No on HSB 281 Several concerns but the most important One is the potential impact on voter accessibility. If the bill introduces stricter voter identification requirements or alters polling procedures, some voters, particularly those from marginalized communities, may face difficulties in casting their ballots. Ensuring that all eligible citizens can participate in elections is fundamental to a healthy democracy.

03-05-2025

dwayne brown

I'm from Pottawattamie county Iowa and asking you to please remove Division II of this bill. Spending precious legislative time on something that isn't currently available for use is a waste when there are real problems to be solved. Ranked Choice Voting is financially responsible because avoids costly runoff elections. The state should allow this conversation to continue. Thank you

03-05-2025

Mary Richards

I urge the subcommittee to remove Division II of House Bill 281. Our democratic system of government only works effectively when citizens have a chance to debate proposals( such as this one) that will change their ability to make decisions about how their voices will be heard. This section of the bill cuts off any chance for public debate, and, in fact, says "We know what's best for you. Don't even bother to think about alternatives." RCV has the potential to save time and money in contested local elections. The opportunity to choose it should be available to Iowa voters.

03-05-2025

Dana Foster

Please remove Division II of HSB 281. I am a mother and middle school teacher. I want young people to feel engaged in the political process and I care about voting. Ranked choice voting promotes civility in elections and allows voters to have their preferences heard more fully. I believe it can help young people be more engaged with local government, which would be good for Iowa.Thank you.Dana FosterIowa City

03-05-2025

Aubrey Does

Ranked Choice Voting is the future of our democracy. This important tool should not be banned but explored as a vehicle for stronger elections. I stand against this bill moving forward and hope my legislators will do the same.

03-05-2025

Montse Madden

Please vote yes to banning rank choice voting. Its confusing for a common voter and allows for manipulation of results. With election integrity needs at an all time high, we need to secure our elections and not leave room for manipulations. Im quite sure if the majority of Iowans were aware of this possibility and truly understood how it worked, they would not support it.

03-05-2025

Marcia Guffey

Please vote to ban RCV! If States have already tried it and it was a disaster, why is it smart to think it will be any different to keep repeating a mistake? It is confusing and that opens the door for manipulation and slight of hand. We shouldn't have to be rethink how our vote will count. One person, one vote and the majority number wins. PERIOD!

03-05-2025

Joseph Stevens

Its honestly embarrassing that youre spending time banning something that isnt even legal, as if youre preemptively terrified of the mere idea of Ranked Choice Voting. This level of paranoia makes it clear youre more interested in shutting down discussion than actually addressing real issues facing Iowans. Why are you so afraid of an alternative voting method that gives people more choice? Instead of wasting taxpayer resources legislating against a hypothetical, maybe focus on something that actually affects Iowans today. The only reason to push a ban like this is if youre scared of a system that might make elections more representativeand that fear says a lot about your priorities.This isnt just redundantits an embarrassing admission that youre afraid of competition and new ideas. If Ranked Choice Voting were truly a bad system, wouldnt it be enough to let it fail on its own? Instead, youre rushing to smother any potential discussion before it even begins, making it clear you dont trust Iowans to make informed decisions about their own elections. Thats not leadershipthats cowardice. Voters deserve representatives who welcome debate and innovation, not politicians who panic at the thought of giving people more power over their own democracy.

03-05-2025

Mark Stelter

Please remove Division II of HSB 281. I am a 30 year resident of Iowa and have voted for both D's and R's over the years. Today, there is so much devisiveness in our politics. Ranked Choice Voting will ensure that elected officials have done the work of supporting ALL of their constituents, not just the extreme ends. Let's stop the ineffecient pendulum swings of far right policies followed by far left policies. Most Iowans want stable, commonsense solutions. States and districts that have adopted RCV love it and have seen more civil campaigns and more balanced legislation. Thank you for your consideration.

03-05-2025

Thomas O'Donnell

Please vote to remove Division II from this bill and keep the option for ranked choice voting available to Iowans. Since RCV isn't even legal in the state, this bill is unnecessarily redundant. There is much misinformation about this option, which allows voters greater freedom to choose candidates that align with their views. I fear some politicians oppose this fair and accurate voting method because it would encourage more centrist candidates and discourage the very extremism that is harming our political system. It would save time and money in races with multiple candidates and lead to candidates that more people support.

03-05-2025

Sharon Santema

Please vote FOR HSB 281, with a clarification to Division IV. In Division II, Iowa needs to ban Ranked Choice Voting. RCV is a complicated process. RCV is nearly impossible to audit or recount. It is confusing for the voter. RCV requires the use of the questionable electronic voting systems which were part of the steal of the 2020 election. Hand counting is the surest possible way to having a fair election. It is far less expensive than using the voting machines and you have results by midnight. No need for audits because counting is done in public, by the public, at the precinct where the votes were cast under a video camera. My concerns are about Division IV Pilot Program, REQUIRING the SoS to contract with a 3rd party for verification of the voter registration database. Is there an "OUT" before the 3 years are up, if the voter rolls are not improving as they should be? Who is the 3rd party going to be? We used ERIC from 2017 to 2023 and we ended up with very messy voter rolls. A good 3rd party would be The People's Audit, a group focused on election integrity headed by Kris Jurski. The People's Audit monitors the voter rolls on a monthly basis and flags names being electronically put on the list and then taken back off the list, put back on again, etc. Division IX is doing well to prevent noncitizens from being on Iowa's voter rolls without documentation.

03-05-2025

Randy Hefel

Division II Please vote YES for this division. NO Ranked Choice Voting is a clear choice.Division IV Please vote NO for this division unless you include the word "LEGAL" in the affidavit paragraph, "I am a "LEGAL" citizen of the United States."Division X ELECTION MANAGEMENT Once again the SOS continues to take away the transparency and integrity of our election by making something that should be totally transparent to confidential! Please vote no for this Division or remove the confidentiality statement.

03-05-2025

Kelly Spencer

Please oppose this bill. In Cedar Rapids, we'd like to use ranked choice voting for city elections, replacing our current system of runoff elections. Compared with runoff elections, ranked choice voting is less costly to taxpayers, and it provides election results much sooner. There is no reason the state should oppose ranked choice voting for city elections. Thank you.

03-05-2025

S. Baker

VOTE YES on HSB 281 TO BAN RANKED CHOICE VOTING IN IOWA!!! What TERRIBLE idea to introduce this to Iowa. It will make it easier to manipulate your vote! I thought we Iowans were smarter than that! We have a good thing going with how we vote right now. Why would we COMPLICATE IT WITH RCV??? RCV WOULD BE A DISASTER! Leave our voting alone!

03-05-2025

Nicholas Beacom

Hi, I was born in western Iowa, descended from tenant farmers who settled on the missouri in Salix. I've lived in Sioux City, Iowa City, and now in West Des Moines in polk county.Please remove Division II of HSB 281.I support Rank Choice or Approval Voting, but more importantly, I support not banning even the possibility of those. Likely most Iowans are about to fill out March Madness brackets. Those are much more complicated than simply putting a list in rankorder! We Iowans are not simpleminded. We can handle a conversation about voting method changes. How boring and unsatisfying would March Madness be if only North Carolina and Syracuse got to play every year?You may know Federalist 10, where Madison warns of the dangers of factionalism, or you may know of Washington's similar warnings. RCV is a proven way out of factionalism and increased civility in elections. I don't understand why legislature are using precious time on a symbolic bill to ban a policy that isn't legal yet.Some of you know Jordan Peterson, who talks about letting bad ideas be trumped by good ones in the public square. What he is against is outright banning consideration of ideas, or being afraid of them. An attempt to ban RCV is an attempt to ban a kind of free expression.Thank you for considering. Please keep Iowans free to flourish by not banning RCV.

03-05-2025

Mark Ciecior

My name is Mark from North Liberty, IA. Our current system clearly creates deep divisions amongst our voting population and encourages people to avoid the middle ground. Ranked Choice Voting has solved this problem in other states. Please discard Division II of HSB 281. We need sensible solutions, not more laws by lobbyists.

03-05-2025

Matthew Wetstein

My name is Matt Wetstein. I live in Ames with my wife and two children. I support Ranked Choice Voting because this country and this state needs a voting system that restores power to the voters, and an election process that encourages positive, substantive campaigning over toxic, divisive politics. Ranked Choice Voting is simple, and routine with over 20 years of experience, used by over 50 jurisdictions and 14 million voters in the US alone (a century worldwide). By the numbers, Ranked Choice Voting works better and is no more error prone than our current system. And it's popular where ever it's used...which is why the ban bills are only passing in places that never used it in the first place.Ranked Choice Voting would be especially efficient and economical for Iowa cities as a way to eliminate costly, complicated, and errorprone runoffs or primaries.Above all, there is no reason to ban RCV, which isn't presently legal and isn't even on the table yet. Iowa deserves a free and fair conversation on this issue. There is no reason for this state to fear new ideas. There is no reason for the heavy hand of government to take options away from local communities. **Please Strike Division II from HSB 281.**

03-05-2025

Paul Uzel

This measure is:1. Unnecessary: random choice isn't the law WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE TO IMPLEMENT;2. Antidemocratic: preventing consideration of electoral options for We the People;3. Partisan: favors personality and party over principles and platforms 4. Contrary to parliamentary procedure: never move to negate or prevent something especially if it doesn't already exist. These are just a few of the problems with this measure designed to disenfranchise We the People (in, establish autocracy.)

03-05-2025

Annette Busbee

Ranked Choice Voting has been well received by Iowans who are learning about it. Let us continue the conversation and remove Division II of this bill. Iowans want more choices, better choices and more civil campaigns. And we want local control of our elections...not more bans and mandates from the state.

03-05-2025

Anthony Robinson

I'm a math teacher from Iowa House District 90.Please remove Division II of HSB 281, which bans ranked choice voting. First, it's irrational there's no reason to oppose new ideas that haven't even become legal. It's a waste of the legislature's time that effectively changes no policy.Second, it doesn't serve voter's interests, only the selfinterest of entrenched politicians. Third, Ranked Choice Voting would sensibly simplify the election process and save taxpayer money by eliminating runoff elections; this would benefit us all!Iowans should be able to expect the ability to have free and fair conversations without the heavy hand of the legislature.

03-05-2025

Timothy Gardner

I fully support this measure to forever eliminate Ranked Choice Voting as a possibility in Iowa. The system our state currently employs is the safest and fairest method our determining our office holders. RCV is fraught with issues greying the lines and inviting fraud. Just ask our friends in Alaska how it worked out for them.

03-05-2025

Mary Sand

I respectfully urge you to oppose HSB 281.RCV could be very helpful to prevent runoff elections. If we in Ames had RCT in our precinct some years ago, the expense of a runoff election for city council would have been prevented. I kept thinking at that time that we should have had RCV because many voters are not aware of or forget about voting in runoff elections. That particular election was ultimately decided by very few voters. Moreover, we would have known the results of the election much sooner. So, please oppose this bill and allow communities to use RCV if they so choose. Thank you.

03-05-2025

Faye Henn

Ranked choice voting is not legal anywhere in Iowa, and banning it would be spitting in the face of Iowan who believe in a future of better politics and are working to improve our elections. Why ban something that isn't legal in the first place? I am extremely disappointed in our legislature for putting so much energy towards banning something that is not legal when our schools are underfunded, our rivers are full of pollution, and farmers are being pushed out by huge corporations. Do better! I believe in Iowans ability to engage democratically and make their own decisions about their state politics.