"Voter Ready" initiative launched to prepare for Iowa election law changes

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the “Voter Ready” outreach initiative in early January to ensure Iowans are informed about recent election law changes, including the implementation of Voter ID. The “Voter Ready” educational effort breaks down the process into three simple action steps for voters: register to vote, bring  their ID, cast their ballot. Iowans who follow those three steps should have an easy time participating in the 2018 elections, according to Secretary Pate.

Secretary Pate stressed that no eligible voter will be turned away from the polls. The new law includes a soft roll-out for this year, 2018. This year, poll workers will ask voters to provide their Iowa driver’s license or non-operator’s ID, a U.S. passport, a veterans ID, a military ID or a Voter ID card. However, a voter who does not have an ID will be allowed to cast a regular ballot after signing an oath that swears to their identity. Voters can also have another registered voter attest to their identity.

"The Voter Ready initiative is important in helping voters understand the steps to give them the best experience at the polls going forward," shared Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer. "The 'soft roll-out' for 2018 will hopefully ease people into the habit of bringing their ID when they vote, as they will be allowed to vote a regular ballot without the ID in 2018 by signing an extra oath swearing to their identity. I encourage all voters to make sure their Voter Registration is up-to-date with their correct address, and to always carry their ID with them when they vote. These two things will make their experience go smoothly at the polls. Anyone without an Iowa driver’s license or non-driver ID should have received a new Voter ID card in the mail and should bring that with them to the polls in place of the ID."

Also beginning January 1 of this year, voters in Iowa requesting absentee ballots will be required to include their driver’s license/non-driver’s ID numbers on their request form. Voters receiving the Voter ID Card will be required to include their card’s four-digit PIN number on the absentee ballot request form.

The law authorizes county auditors to return an absentee ballot request or to mark an absentee ballot affidavit as defective if they believe the signature on the request form or the voter affidavit is not the voter’s signature.

“It is time for all of us to work together to make sure Iowa voters know about the election law changes and what to expect when casting their ballot,” Secretary Pate said. “I want every eligible Iowan to participate in our elections. It’s not complicated, and we want Iowans to understand that.”

Secretary Pate’s “Voter Ready” initiative includes a free, customizable toolkit the Secretary of State’s Office will supply to any group interested in helping Iowans vote. Many of the educational materials in the toolkit were derived from feedback received during a roundtable discussion that included the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, LULAC, AARP, the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Rights Iowa, all three political parties, college students, county auditors, and others. Groups wishing to utilize the “Voter Ready” toolkit should send an email to sos@sos.iowa.gov.

“This toolkit will provide an important resource in our effort to educate our constituency and prepare capable and confident voters. I appreciate Secretary Pate and his staff reaching out to groups like ours to provide input on how best to reach Iowa voters with the educational materials they have developed,” said Rik Shannon, public policy manager for the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council.

“We will use this toolkit to prepare the voters in our county. Knowledge about the process will alleviate any fears voters might have,” said Page County Auditor Melissa Wellhausen. “They will see this process is just as simple as cashing a check or a variety of other things Iowans do on a regular basis.”

Secretary Pate has also partnered with West Des Moines-based marketing firm Strategic America to conduct outreach to voters statewide and also plans to travel across the state to help educate Iowans about the new requirements. The Secretary of State’s Office will be conducting a statewide “Voter Ready” tour, holding educational summits, meeting with key stakeholder groups, and promoting the facts through various channels to make sure the correct information is received by Iowa voters. The statewide tour has recently gotten underway in late January. Iowans who are seeking additional information about changes in the election law can find the specific link on the Iowa Secretary of State's website at sos.iowa.gov/voterid.