A GOP amendment to this bill that was supposed to fix some concerns raised in the committee process also does something that was not discussed at all in the committee process: Changing the poll close time in Iowa from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. desmoinesregister.com/story/news/pol…
"County auditors have constantly lobbied the legislature to implement uniform poll closing times at 8 p.m. Some elections close at 8, some elections close at 9. This will bring consistency and I thank the auditors for bringing this forward," Sen. Roby Smith says.
Sen. Roby Smith's amendment would also require absentee ballots to be received by the county auditor by 8 p.m. on election night, except for overseas/military voters, and a couple other populations. Currently, ballots can arrive after Election Day if they're mailed the day before
Smith's amendment has passed 30-18. Senate is now debating a bill that would:
- Set early voting at 20 days (down from 29)
- Close polls at 8 p.m. (down from 9 p.m.)
- Require absentee ballots to be received by poll close on Election Day
Republicans vote down a Democratic amendment by Sen. @LizMathis1 that would have created automatic voter registration in Iowa. Vote was 30-18.
Republicans vote down a Democratic amendment by @EricGiddens4IA that would make it harder to mark voters as inactive or remove them from the voting rolls. Vote was 30-18.
Republicans vote down a Democratic amendment by Sen. Jackie Smith to address Iowa's recount procedures.
Sen. Roby Smith says they're waiting to take that up until #IA02 case is decided.
"I look forward to addressing this issue once the contested case is heard and resolved."
Republican Sen. Dan Zumbach calls a point of order on Democratic Sen. @ZachWahls for saying former President Donald Trump lied about the outcome of the 2020 election. Zumbach says Wahls' comments have nothing to do with the bill.
The Iowa Senate has voted 30-18 along party lines to pass a bill shortening Iowa's early voting period by 9 days, reducing Election Day voting by an hour and creating a stricter deadline for returning absentee ballots. This story will update. #ialegisdesmoinesregister.com/story/news/pol…
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- Iowa's early voting period would go from 29 days to 20
- Polls would close at 8 p.m. rather than 9
- No one other than a family member or caregiver could return a voter's ballot
- County auditors could face new charges desmoinesregister.com/story/news/pol…
"Why are we doing this in Iowa? We had no fraud. We had a record turnout. People were happy with the way they got to vote absentee — a million people. And you better believe some of those people were Republicans, because you won," Rep Sharon Steckman said. desmoinesregister.com/story/news/pol…
Floor manager @Rep_BobbyK said Iowa's 2020 election was successful and the bill isn't a response to fraud, despite Democrats' claims that Republicans are acting based on false claims of election fraud.
Scenes from the @ProgressIowa#IowaCornFeed in Cedar Rapids, where 11 Democratic presidential candidates will speak OUTSIDE this afternoon. It's 90 degrees out. #iacaucus
Rep. Abby Finkenauer (@Abby4Iowa) is giving some opening remarks now. She says the crowd is about to hear from candidates who will "bring dignity and respect back to the White House." #IowaCornFeed#iacaucus
.@Abby4Iowa says of her work in Washington: "I didn’t go there to be a part or a star in a reality TV show. I went there to have your backs and to find common ground in the places that we can." #IowaCornFeed#iacaucus