Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is reminding Iowans that deadlines loom for voter registration and absentee ballot access ahead of National Voter Registration Day, recognized on Sept. 17th.
"I think it's important that we make sure all Iowa's eligible voters have all the tools they need to cast their ballots safely and securely," Secretary Pate said in a phone interview with WVIK. "And the first one, of course, is having a plan, and that means getting registered or, in some cases, people need to update their registration because they've moved. Clearly, we want to make sure they know where their polling locations are and maybe some of the details as to what the deadlines are if you want to vote by mail."
Iowans must postmark voter registration applications by October 21st; a form can be downloaded on the secretary of state's website. They can also register at their local county auditor's office or online at the secretary of state's website. Residents must have their driver's license or non-operator ID handy to sign up online.
Residents can also apply for same-day voter registration at their precinct. Absentee ballots can be hand-delivered to the county auditor's office or mailed. The absentee form is on the secretary of state's website.
Secretary of State Pate says the most significant error the state notices is residents postmarking their absentee ballot at the last minute and arriving after election day, which is not counted.
Pate will speak with students at Des Moines area schools on September 17th about voter registration.
"We also want them to know that – you know, just exactly why is it important to have a voice in your own government" Pate said. "Sometimes, you know, they're preoccupied with what they do as teenagers. Not necessarily what goes on around them in the government world. And so that's the message we're going to give to them."
Pate says Iowans can rest easy about election integrity as the state uses voter identification and paper ballots and conducts post-election audits.
WVIK asked Republican Secretary Pate about his vote, joining Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird against allowing three libertarian candidates a spot on the general election ballot because of party convention timing. The three-person State Objection Panel includes State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat. Sand was the sole no-vote.
"Well, unfortunately, the Libertarian Party didn't do the nomination process correctly. My job as the Secretary of State and Commissioner of Elections – I'm the referee," Pate said. "My job is to just administer the laws and the rules as they are. I don't get to make them up. And if everybody operates from the same rules, we have a fair election process. And, fortunately, I respect the passion. I respect the people who put their voice out there. I respect the names on the line to be a candidate. But I also have to remind them that we're all playing from the same rulebook, and I don't get to make them up. So I hope that in the future the Libertarian Party – because they are a major party now – will do their due diligence and know the rules and make sure that their candidates are successful because they should have a voice, and that's the best advice I can give them."
Last week, Sept. 11th, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a lower district court's ruling that the libertarian candidates did not file correctly following state law and should be removed from the ballot.
Rob Sand released a statement on the same day, reading: “Requiring ‘strict compliance’ with election laws written by a two-party system will no doubt smother opposition and prop up that same broken system.”
Iowans can still vote for First Congressional District candidate Nicholas Gluba, 3rd District candidate Marco Battaglia and 4th District candidate Charles Aldrich as a write-in vote in the November election.
