House Ok's Same-Day Registration for Voters
Iowa's current law requires voters to register 10 days before primary and general elections and 11 days before other elections. The change would allow people to bring records to their voting location and register just moments before casting their ballot.
The proposal, House File 653, passed on a 54-44 vote, largely split along party lines. Rep. Walt Tomenga of Johnston was the only Republican to vote in favor of bill. No Democrats voted against the bill, which now moves to the Senate.
House Democrats said same-day voter registration would encourage more people to vote and that, in turn, would strengthen the political process. They based their proposal on a Minnesota law that has been in place more than 30 years.
Republicans, however, said the proposal is critically flawed because it fails to adequately protect against voter fraud.
Democrats rejected amendments proposed by House Republicans that would require county attorneys to issue arrest warrants for voters who illegally cast ballots. Democrats argued that courts, not county attorneys, issue warrants.
Democrats also turned down a proposal to count ballots from same-day registered voters as "provisional" until they could be checked and verified as legitimate.
"Democracy in our county depends on the ability of all of our citizens to participate in free and open elections," said Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, an Ames Democrat and vice-chairwoman of the committee on state government.
Wessel-Kroeschell noted that people who use same-day voter registration would be forced to show proof of residency as well as photo identification. They also would have to sign an oath acknowledging they know untruthful information on the registration could result in a fine of up to $7,500 and five years in jail.
She told House members that "voter fraud is a myth," which fueled opposition from Republicans.
"First a Minnesota law is our model. Now Minnesota law is not our model," said Jeff Kaufmann, a Wilton Republican who noted that Minnesota's law requires county officials to take prompt action against violators. "If this is good enough for Minnesota, I don't understand why it's not good enough for Iowa."
Kent Kaiser, a spokesman for the Minnesota Secretary of State, said Tuesday that the state has had a few instances of voter abuse caused by same-day registration but noted that those are rare.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa was among the supporters of the bill. Randall Wilson, the group's legal director, said the issue of voter fraud is quickly fading with technology.
Wilson said he expects advancements in computer programs to alleviate worries that voters could cast ballots in multiple precincts. "I think the sun is setting on that concern," he said.
Tomenga, the lone Republican who voted for bill, said his support didn't mean he was deserting his party.
"We have a lot of problems with people not voting in this country," Tomenga said. "After weighing the pros and cons, I decided it was worth the gamble."
If passed, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2008.
