Friday, April 16, 2004

Governor Signs Voting Bill

DES MOINES — Today Governor Vilsack signed Senate File 2269, an Act relating to elections and voter registration, including implementing requirements of federal law, adjusting language to reflect current practice, making changes related to voting machines, making changes related to absentee voting, providing penalties, and providing effective and applicability dates.

The new law will make the necessary technical changes for Iowa’s election system to comply with federal requirements of the “Help America Vote Act” (HAVA). With enactment of this legislation and full funding of HAVA, states will be able to make polling places accessible to people with disabilities, create single computerized statewide voter registration databases, and create nationwide provisional balloting systems so that no eligible voter is turned away.

“Iowa has a tradition of fair and accurate elections. This bill will help Iowa maintain full compliance with federal election laws, while giving Iowa voters the peace of mind that their votes will be fully and securely accounted for,” the Governor said. “Government has a responsibility to ensure the fairness and integrity of the democratic process, and this bill is part of that responsibility. This bill also provides additional accountability for absentee voting while maintaining a system that is still accessible and capable of providing voters with the opportunity to participate in the process.”

“I would also like to thank the Legislature for working together in a bipartisan manner to pass this bill,” the Governor said.

The bill’s changes to the absentee ballot process include requirements to provide receipts for the pick-up of absentee ballot requests and absentee ballots, a 72 hour turn around time between pick-up and delivery of requests and ballots from the voter to the commissioners of elections, establishes a ballot courier system with training and registration requirements, and a provision to provide postage paid return envelopes for all absentee ballots.

Paid for by The Taylor for Representative Committee
Web Hosting and Design by

Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.