IOWA - High profile legal challenges are expected against Iowa's new voting law signed Monday by Governor Kim Reynolds.
Attorney Marc Elias, who successfully argued against many of the 60 plus Republican challenges in November's election, says to expect litigation
He's calling the Iowa law the first major suppression law since the election.
After signing the law, Reynolds said it'll bring more transparency, accountability and voter confidence in casting ballots.
“It’s our duty and responsibility to protect the integrity of every election, said Reynolds. "This legislation strengthens uniformity by providing Iowa’s election officials with consistent parameters for Election Day, absentee voting, database maintenance, as well as a clear appeals process for local county auditors. All of these additional steps promote more transparency and accountability, giving Iowans even greater confidence to cast their ballot.”
The law passed in the Iowa legislature with no votes from Democrats, who say it amounts to voter suppression.
The new law shortens the early voting period by nine days, closes polls an hour earlier and places new limits on absentee ballots.
It further places criminal charges for county auditors who don't follow state rules.
Under the new law, auditors may no longer establish satellite in-person early voting sites unless petitioned to do so by residents, and they may not mail absentee ballot request forms to voters unless a voter asks for one.
New Voting Law Highlights:
- Shorten the early voting period from 29 days to 20.
- Prevent auditors from sending out absentee ballots until mid-October;
- Bar auditors from mailing absentee ballot request forms (Secretary Paul Pate sent absentee ballot request forms to all voters in 2020)
- Call for absentee ballots to be returned only by care givers and immediate family members
- Early-voted ballots must be in the county auditor's office by the time polls close on Election Day
- Allow for only one early ballot drop box in each county
- Require the state attorney general to investigate all accusations of voter fraud
The Brennan Center for Justice says lawmakers in 43 states have carried over, prefiled, or introduced more than 250 bills the change voting laws since the 2020 election.
Many Republicans have expressed concern after former President Trump repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him.
In response, The Democratically controlled U.S. House has passed a sweeping voting rights bill which weakens state voter ID laws, mandates automatic voter registration, expands early and mail-in voting and restores voting rights to former felons. The bill faces a tougher road in the U.S. Senate.