Iowa Secretary of State Addresses Improper Voter Roll Removals
DES MOINES, Iowa — In a recent statement, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate confirmed that several voters were unjustly removed from the state’s registration rolls by county election officials due to challenges filed too close to the election. These removals, made during a legally mandated "quiet period" of 90 days before elections, contravened the National Voter Registration Act, which aims to protect voters from bureaucratic errors.
Pate instructed county auditors to consult their attorneys and reinstate affected voters. He noted that “most, if not all” counties have already taken these corrective actions. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa raised concerns about this issue, citing individuals who reported their status was under investigation after county audits were conducted.
While Pate did not disclose the number of voters impacted, the ACLU highlighted three counties that experienced large-scale challenges. In one instance, a resident challenged 605 voters in Pottawattamie County, violating the federal 90-day quiet period. County auditor Melvyn Houser acknowledged the oversight, pledging to rectify the situation and reaffirming their commitment to maintain accurate voter rolls.
Legal director of the ACLU of Iowa, Rita Bettis Austen, emphasized the danger of such mass challenges, which often rely on outdated data, describing them as potentially malicious attempts to disrupt the electoral process.
As scrutiny of election integrity intensifies leading up to the 2024 presidential elections, Pate also addressed potential concerns over non-citizen voting, emphasizing that suspected individuals would not be outright removed from voter rolls but would face challenges at polling stations.
The situation reflects a broader national dialogue on voter suppression and election integrity, as states navigate the complexities of voter registration laws.
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