Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate | Facebook
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate | Facebook
Iowa Republican legislators have proposed an amendment that would stop the Secretary of State Paul Pate from dispersing mail-in absentee ballots.
More than 80% of results collected in Iowa's June 2 primary election were from absentee ballots.
The amendment would keep the Secretary of State from sending mail-in ballots to all registered voters in the future. Those in favor of the amendment say it would make voting secure, but Democrats fear this is voter suppression.
“Voters still have to request a ballot,” Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald told KCCI. “You’re not given a ballot automatically. You have to request that ballot, and all this is doing is making it easier during a pandemic, to have the postage paid into your local county auditor, but it doesn't sound like (Republican lawmakers) want that to happen.”
The Iowa Association of County Auditors are not in favor of the bill.
Registered Iowans can request a mail-in ballot for the November election beginning July 6.
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