Iowa Republicans propose prohibiting mailing ballot request forms unless voters ask, limiting reduct
Three days after a statewide primary election that saw record turnout due largely to coronavirus-related absentee voting, Iowa Senate Republicans advanced legislation that would prevent election officials from repeating some of the same steps in the general election.
The legislation would prohibit county auditors from reducing polling locations by more than 35% during an emergency and prohibit the secretary of state from mailing absentee ballot requests without a written voter request. Iowa election officials took both of those actions before Tuesday's primary to ease both voting and election administration during the virus.
Republicans have said they want to write guidelines to provide clarity for campaigns ahead of the November federal elections. But Democrats on Friday said the changes would suppress votes, and the amendment also drew outcry from local election officials.
Sen. Roby Smith, R-Davenport, who chairs the Senate State Government Committee, said the bill is meant to support "safe, secure and reliable elections."
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/05/iowa-senate-republicans-propose-limiting-absentee-ballot-request-forms-paul-pate-covid-19/3155908001/