Republicans in the Iowa House have voted to ban drop boxes at county auditors’ offices for absentee ballots and to require that absentee ballots be in election offices the day before an election. For elections held in Iowa the past three years, absentee ballots were counted if the ballot was received by county auditors by the time polls closed. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says anyone can vote in the time frame outlined in the bill.
House Democrats voted against the bill, which makes other changes, like requiring new absentee ballot envelopes. Representative Amy Nielsen is a Democrat from North Liberty.
Representative Austin Baeth, a Democrat from Des Moines, suggests the changes are fueled by paranoia.
Representative Kaufmann, who has managed previous bills making election law changes, responded.
The bill now goes to the Iowa Senate for consideration.
