Meeting Public Comments

Subcommittee meeting and times are as follows:
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A bill for an act relating to the conduct of elections, including challenges to voter registrations by persons in other counties and the preparation of lists of registered voters, and making penalties applicable.
Subcommittee members: Salmon-CH, Jochum, Schultz
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Location: Senate Lounge
Comments Submitted:
The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.
Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

02-23-2023
Sharon Schiefen []
I have worked on trying to clean up the voter rolls in my county this last year by using my time to research and document people who have moved and or recently voted in another state. I present my documentation in the challenge. I do not have any argument if someone comes back with a legitimate reason as to why they should remain on the rolls and therefore do not see any reason the challenger should be required to attend the hearing in order to have the people that did not reply be removed. I would also like to be able to do this in other counties because having clean rolls in our state gives Iowa citizens the reassurance that their elections are clean.
02-23-2023
Michael Bayer []
I support HF 351. With today's technology, citizens can perform an important role in keeping our voter rolls clean. This benefits all Iowans. Access to the voter rolls is key in researching and assisting the county commissioners in this voter roll maintenance effort. Sections 48A.1416 of the Iowa Code provides for challenges to the voter registration of ineligible voters. This code currently limits the challenges to a registered voter in the same county as the challenger. This is an unnecessary limitation as it is often difficult to find volunteers who are knowledgeable of the voter registration process and willing to file challenges. Thus, many identified ineligible voters stay on the voter rolls. This bill would allow registered voters to challenge ineligible voters any where in the state. This will help keep the voter rolls clean and improve public confidence in the elections. Iowans can request a voter registration list for only certain purposes. One of those is bona fide political research. However, that term is not defined. It is not clear that research to keep the voter rolls clean is included. This bill makes it clear that is included in bona fide political research. Please pass HF 351.
02-23-2023
Rafaela Cadena [Iowa and National election integrity groups]
I support HF 351 and echo what everyone here has said. I appreciate all their efforts in cleaning up the voter rolls. In an ideal world it there would already be a good system in place but for now its voters and citizens cleaning them up. There should be nothing in the way of getting this done to ensure clean elections that we can be confident in.I have not had the time to do this but the people in my groups have and some of which have commented here today.Please pass HF 351.Thank you for your consideration.